| Elasmotherium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biological information | |
| Time period : | Pleistocene epoch |
| Lifestyle : | Herbivore |
| In the series | |
| Brought back : | 1 male |
| Appearances : | "A Mammoth Undertaking" "Supercroc" |
Elasmotherium (name meaning "laminated beast"), also known as the giant rhinoceros, is an extinct genus of rhinoceros indigenous to Eurasia during the Pleistocene epoch. It is best known for the large horn on the center of its head.
Facts[]
The best-known species, E. sibiricum, is thought to have used its thick horn for defense, attracting mates, driving away predators, sweeping snow from the grass in winter, or digging for water and plant roots. Like other rhinoceros, Elasmotherium was herbivorous. Unlike many others, its high-crowned molars continued to grow throughout its lifetime. Its legs were longer than those of other rhinos and were designed for running, giving it a zebra-like gait.
The largest known specimens of E. sibiricum reach up to 4.5 meters long with shoulder heights over 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) while E. caucasicum reached at least 5 meters body length with an estimated mass of 6 tons, based on isolated molars that significantly exceed those known from the Siberian species. Both species were among the largest in the rhinceros family, comparable in size to the woolly mammoth, and larger than the contemporary woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta. The feet were unguligrade, the front larger than the rear, with 4 digits at the front and 3 at the rear.[1]
Portrayal in the series[]
Unlike most other herbivorous animals within the series, Elasmotherium is shown to be highly aggressive and temperamental. They are also extremely strong, as shown when one nearly broke the gate of the observation pen when Nigel brought it back to the present.
They are solitary animals, preferring to live alone rather in groups, unlike the woolly mammoth. No females were shown, but, based on fossil remains, it is known that there was sexual dimorphism.
Unlike Theo the Triceratops, the Elasmotherium is contained in an enclosure fenced off by short fences, like those used for the Ornithomimus pen, rather than tall fences. It was not shown on screen to have any problems with the warm climate, unlike Martha.
The Elasmotherium trying to break through the gate. ("A Mammoth Undertaking")
In Prehistoric Park[]
"A Mammoth Undertaking"[]
When Nigel traveled back to Siberia 150,000 years ago to collect plant samples for Martha the woolly mammoth, he encountered a large male Elasmotherium who was investigating his snowmobile. While at first it didn't notice Nigel because of it's poor eyesight, but picked up on Nigel's scent and began coming closer as Nigel backed away. Unfortunately, a bull woolly mammoth appeared. He was highly aggressive as he was going into musth, and, therefore, charged Nigel, causing the latter to drop the bag of plants and run for his snowmobile, which he managed to escape on.
As Nigel went to retrieve his food bag he planned to rescue the Elasmotherium as he was grazing near the bag. Once he retrieved the bag Nigel waited for the rhino to charge him, causing it to chase him through the portal and eventually into a holding pen. Later he could be seen grazing in his new enclosure.
"Supercroc"[]
The Elasmotherium charging alongside the flock of Ornithomimus ("Supercroc")
During head keeper, Bob's shift of cleaning the dung out of the Elasmotherium enclosure, the park's Phorusrhacos escaped and investigated Bob, but was quickly lured back to his own enclosure by two other keepers with a piece of meat tied to a car.
Later that day, the Elasmotherium's fencing was broken down by a rampaging titanosaur, allowing him to escape. It was later seen grazing near the park's flock of Ornithomimus. Bob tried to round him up along with the ornithomimosaurs, but they were all quickly scared away by the arrival of Matilda, the park's resident female T. rex. Eventually, the Elasmotherium and all of the other escaped animals were captured and returned to their enclosures.
Errors[]
- The Elasmotherium is often referred as a woolly rhinoceros throughout the series. However, the woolly rhinoceros is the name commonly used to refer to the extinct rhinoceros species, Coelodonta antiquitatis, which was a bit smaller than Elasmotherium and possessed two horns rather than one.
Gallery[]
