Earth always finds new ways to surprise us, and the latest episode has just been written in China, where the paleontological team has found what is currently believed to be the largest land mammal that has ever run on earth. This is a new species of giant rhinos that will stand higher than any giraffe and will be six elephants. The fossil skull of the Linxiase paraserherine (Linxia giant rhinoceros) is more than three legs.
Fossils are found in Linxia Basin in Gansu Province, CNN report. The Chinese and US team led by Deng Tao analyzed fossils found in 2015, and then the team named new species. The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced the discovery on Friday. The TAO team came from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) in the Academy, and they published their findings in biological communication.
“Usually fossils come to pieces, but this is complete, with a very complete skull and a very complete jaw, which is rare,” said Deng CNN. “The skull was more than one meter long (three feet), and it was very rare to skull with that size to be preserved. We also found the cervical spine.”
Thousands of giants will weigh around 24 tons, scientists said. The shoulder will be more than 16 feet from the ground, with a head up to 23 feet. His body was 26 feet long. Overall, the body of a giant rhinoceros is the same size as six elephants. In comparison, male male giraffe might reach 18 feet, with females reaching 14 feet.
“This is the biggest mammal that has ever lived on land,” Deng said.
The researchers used genetic analysis to prove that animals were part of a new species of giant rhinos. Rhino giants will live in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. Some of them may have reached as far as Eastern Europe. This species lives in the northern part of the Tibetan Highlands around 31 million years ago, before moving southwest.
Giant Giant Linxia is a descendant of species living in Pakistan. It lived around 26.5 million years ago in the Linxia area where he died. Deng explained the animals had to cross the Tibetan plateau on the way to Linxia, which meant the highlands lower than now.
“In addition, animal migration is associated with climate change. So 31 million years ago, when the Mongolian highlands dried up, they moved south,” Deng said, adding that the weather was then wet, and the animals returned to the north. “Therefore, this discovery is very important to study the entire process of increasing the highlands, climate and environment.”