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56,000 BCE
First Appearance of Perissodactyls
Rhinoceros belong to the mammalian order known as Perissodactyla. Perissodactyls have hooves, and an odd number of toes on their rear feet. A study that was published in 2014 suggests that perissodactyls first appeared in India during the Eocene Epoch-- around 55 million years ago. The early perissodactyls were the common ancestors of modern rhinoceros, horses, zebras and tapirs. -
Period: 56,000 BCE to 33,900 BCE
Eocene Epoch
The second major worldwide division of the Paleogene period. Unfortunately, this website does not allow creators to add in years beyond 5 digits, which is why the it states that the period Ranged from 56,000 BCE to 33,900 BCE. This period actually occurred around 56 million years ago and ended around 33.9 million years ago. -
33,900 BCE
Evolution of Hyracodonts in Asia
Hyracodonts, the descendants of the early Eocene perissodactyls. They had long and slender limbs and feet, which is unusual in comparison to other species of rhinoceros, and were originally small and pony sized. However, hyracodonts in Asia later evolved into very large creatures such as the Paraceratherium. It is not clear why giant rhinoceros species disappeared. However, it is theorized that they were outcompeted by elephants, as they are more adaptable and versatile large land herbivores. -
Period: 33,900 BCE to 23,000 BCE
Oligocene Epoch
The third and final major worldwide division of the Paleogene period. It occurred around 33.9 million years ago and ended around 23 million years ago. Compared to the other portions of the Paleogene period, the Oligocene Epoch was relatively short, lasting around 11 million years. -
23,000 BCE
Rhinoceros Rising
By the Miocene period, rhinoceros had become commonplace throughout the world. These different species were very versatile, adapting to the environment they lived in. One such species chilotherium, for example, was a water rhino that were extremely similar to hippos. -
Period: 23,000 BCE to 5300 BCE
Miocene Epoch
A period after the Paleogene era that occurred around 23 million years ago and ended around 5.3 million years ago. During this period, the Earth cooled by as much as 4 degrees celcius. -
Period: 2600 BCE to 117 BCE
Pleistocene Epoch, the Last Ice Age
The Pleistocene Epoch was the beginning of the last ice age as of today. It occurred around 2.6 million years ago, and ended around 11,700 years ago. -
2500 BCE
Elasmotherium
Among the most recognizable ancient rhinoceros species throughout the world, the Elasmotherium was a rhinoceros much smaller than the Paraceratherium, but was among the first to incorporate one of the defining traits of modern rhinoceros-- the large horn on its head. -
2500 BCE
Woolly Rhinos
During the ice age, rhinoceros had evolved to have a woolly coat, like the famous woolly mammoth, to withstand the cooling of the Earth. -
Period: 117 BCE to
The Fall of Rhinoceros
Between the unstable ice age climates that the rhinos were not suited to fighting and the appearance of predators they could not handle such as prehistoric hyenas and early humans, many rhino species around the world became extinct over time. Today, rhinoceros no longer live in many different areas around the world. They are confined to Africa and Asia, and there are only 5 major species remaining, and these species are slowly declining as well. -
The Present Day Situation
Today, only 5 major rhinoceros species are left-- the white rhinoceros, the black rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros and the Indian rhinoceros. Three of these species and one subspecies are critically endangered. Only the Indian rhinoceros is not critically endangered-- and even then, it is in a vulnerable status. It is unclear what will happen from this point on, but one thing is for sure-- though rhinos once ruled the world, that era is now long gone.
