Prosantorhinus Explained

Prosantorhinus is an extinct genus of rhinocerotid from the lower and middle Miocene. The small teleoceratine rhinocerotid was found in western Europe and Asia.^[1]

Description

Posantorhinus was a similarly sized animal to the Sumatran rhinoceros, it stood at around 4'3" (130 cm) at the shoulder and was about 9'6" (290cm) long, weight estimates however are considerably bigger due to its considerably deeper chest.^[2]

Posantorhinus ' body plan is stubbier than other rhinoceros', adding to that Posantorhinus 'brachyodont molars it would seem to suggest Posantorhinus led a semiaquatic life, similar to a hippopotamus, possibly feeding on fresh water plants.^{[3] [4]}

The rugged texture at the tip of its snout could suggest the existence of one, maybe two, small horns;^[5] however it has been traditionally reconstructed with a fleshy bump.

Notes and References

1. Antoine . P-O. . Bulot . C. . Ginsburg . L. . Une faune rare de rhinocérotidés (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) dan le Miocène inférieur de Pellecahus (Gers, France) . Geobios . 2000 . 33 . 2 . 249–255 . 10.1016/S0016-6995(00)80022-4. 2000Geobi..33..249A .
2. Web site: Hernández Fernández . Manuel . Ansón . Marco . Artistic reconstruction of the appearance of Prosantorhinus Heissig, 1974, the teleoceratine rhinoceros from the Middle Miocene of Somosaguas . ResearchGate . Spanish Journal of Paleontology . 23 September 2021.
3. Book: Agustí . Jordi . Antón . Mauricio . Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe . 2002 . Columbia University Press . 9780231116411 . 113.
4. Heissig, K. (1999): Family Rhinocerotidae. - In: Rossner, G. E. & Heissig, K. (Eds.): The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe, 175-188; Munich (Pfeil).
5. Prosantorhinus, the small teleoceratinerhinocerotid from the Miocene of Western Europe. 1996-01-01. Geobios. 29. 1. 111–124. 2021-09-21. en. 0016-6995. 10.1016/S0016-6995(96)80077-5. Cerdeño. Esperanza. 1996Geobi..29..111C .