Prosantorhinus

Prosantorhinus is an extinct genus of rhinocerotid that lived during the Early and Middle Miocene subepochs. The small teleoceratine rhinocerotid was found in Western Europe and Asia.^[2]

Prosantorhinus Temporal range: Miocene
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Subfamily:	†Aceratheriinae
Genus:	†Prosantorhinus Heissig, 1973[1]
Species
Prosantorhinus douvillei Prosantorhinus germanicus Prosantorhinus shahbazi Prosantorhinus yei

Description

Prosantorhinus was a similarly sized animal to the Sumatran rhinoceros, it stood at around 4 ft 3 in (130 cm) at the shoulder and was about 9 ft 6 in (290 cm) long, weight estimates however are considerably bigger due to its considerably deeper chest.^[3] The body plan of Prosantorhinus is stubbier than that of other rhinocerotids, and its brachyodont molars would seem to suggest Prosantorhinus led a semiaquatic life, similar to a hippopotamus, possibly feeding on fresh water plants.^[4][5] The tooth eruption sequence of P. germanicus was identical to that of the present-day black rhinoceros, suggesting that it was a slow-growing and long-lived mammal.^[6] The rugged texture at the tip of its snout could suggest the existence of one, maybe two, small horns; however it has been traditionally reconstructed with a fleshy bump.^[7]

Palaeoecology

Study of the dental mesowear and microwear of P. douvillei reveals that it was a folivorous browser.^[8]