Rhinotitan mongoliens (Osborn 1925) The most complete titanothere skeleton from Asia, an intermediate taxon between Protitan and Embolotherium.
(Specimen museum of Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing) Material: IVPP V 3254, a nearly complete skeleton. Locality: Darhan Mumingguan Joint Banner, Inner Mongolia. Age: Middle Eocene. In 1959, an expedition of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, excavated a great number of titanothere fossils in Inner Mongolia, including this best-preserved skeleton in Asia, which was identified as Rhinotitan mongoliens. Prof. Wang Banyue (IVPP) made a detailed morphological and taxonomical study on this precious skeleton, rebuilt the muscles and analyzed the functions. Rhinotitan mongoliens was much heavier than a modern rhino. The reconstructed nasal structure showed that this titanothere might live in the marshland. When dipping its head in water to feed or hide from its enemies, it could contract its nose and close the lower and middle part., while the upper part could still be above the water to breathe.
Size: 5538px × 3693px
Photo credit: © Lou-Foto / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1925, asia, china, complete, eocene, fossil, fossils, middle, mongolia, mongoliens, osborn, paleontology, rhinotitan, skeleton, titanothere, vertebrate
