西方副跑犀牛頭化石

學名:Subhyracodon occidentalis

年代:新生代漸新世

發現地:South Dakota(美國)

說明:

與當今犀牛不一樣的是,西方副跑犀頭上並沒有犀牛角,而且體型也較為瘦小,經推測僅與迷你馬差不多大,不過這麼「脆弱」的犀牛是怎麼在野外生存的呢?原來牠們有著較為細長的四肢、三趾構造且腿部肌肉生長於接近身體處,使牠們的奔跑速度能夠媲美一隻成年馬,進而躲避攻擊者的擊。

Contrary to their close relatives, the modern rhino, the Subhyracodon occidentalis did not have horns and were significantly smaller. Its size is estimated to have been approximately that of a pony. How could have such a diminutive animal survived in the wilderness? Apparently, their slender limbs, three-toed anatomy, and the closeness of their leg muscles to their torso allowed them to reach speeds close to a horse, thus avoiding capture by predators.

你說,這隻犀牛是不是打破了我們一般對犀牛籠統的印象呢?

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