Elasmotherium fossil map
Where fossils of Elasmotherium have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Ice Age & later mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 5.333 million years ago to the present (Zanclean to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Named by | Fischer 1808 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 14 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | China, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine |
| Rock formations | txn:43187, Khapry |
About Elasmotherium
Elasmotherium (from Ancient Greek ἔλασμα (élasma), meaning "metal plate" with the intended meaning "lamina" in reference to the tooth enamel, and θηρίον (theríon), meaning "beast") is an extinct genus of very large rhinoceros that lived in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and East Asia from the late Miocene through to the Late Pleistocene, until at least 39,000 years ago. It was the last surviving member of the subfamily Elasmotheriinae, a formerly diverse group of rhinoceroses separate from the subfamily Rhinocerotinae, that contains all living rhinoceroses.
Five species are recognised. The genus first appeared in the Late Miocene in present-day China, likely having evolved from Sinotherium, before spreading to the Pontic–Caspian steppe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Species of Elasmotherium are the largest known true rhinoceroses, reaching body lengths of at least 4.5 metres (15 ft), shoulder heights of over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in), and estimated body masses of 3.5–5 tonnes (7,700–11,000 lb), comparable to an elephant.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Elasmotherium (revision 1381147751), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q131678.
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