Rhinoceros is a
genus comprising one-horned rhinoceroses. This
scientific name was proposed by Swedish
taxonomistCarl Linnaeus in 1758.[1] The genus contains two species, the
Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the
Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus). Although both members are threatened, the Javan rhinoceros is one of the most endangered large
mammals in the world with only 60 individuals surviving in
Java (
Indonesia). The word 'rhinoceros' is of Greek origin meaning "nose-horn".[clarification needed]
†R. sinensis Owen, 1870[4] Has been used as a
wastebasket taxon[5] used to refer to rhinoceros material from the Pleistocene of China, with various specimens belong to other Rhinoceros species, Dicerorhinus and Stephanorhinus,[6] though it is possible that some remains attributed to Rhinoceros sinensis represents a valid and distinct species of Rhinoceros.[3]
The species "Rhinoceros" philippinensis from the early Middle Pleistocene of the Philippines and "Rhinoceros" sinensis hayasakai from the Early-Middle Pleistocene of Taiwan have been transferred to Nesorhinus, which appears to be closely related to Rhinoceros.[7] While Rhinoceros fusuiensis Yan et al. 2014[8] from the Early Pleistocene of South China has been transferred to Dicerorhinus.[7][9]
Etymology
The genus name Rhinoceros is a combination of the
ancient Greek words ῥίς (rhis) meaning 'nose' and κέρας (keras) meaning 'horn of an animal'.[10][11]
References
^
abLinnæus, C. (1758).
"Rhinoceros unicornis". Caroli Linnæi Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae: Salvius. p. 56.
^Desmarest, A. G. (1822).
"Rhinocéros des Îles de La Sonde". Mammalogie, ou, Description des espèces de mammifères. Vol. 2. Paris: Mme Agasse. pp. 399–400.
^Schepartz, L. A.; Miller-Antonio, S. (2010). "Taphonomy, life history, and human exploitation of Rhinoceros sinensis at the Middle Pleistocene site of Panxian Dadong, Guizhou, China". International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 20 (3): 253–268.
doi:
10.1002/oa.1025.
^Antoine, Pierre-Olivier (March 2012). "Pleistocene and Holocene rhinocerotids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Indochinese Peninsula". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 11 (2–3): 159–168.
Bibcode:
2012CRPal..11..159A.
doi:
10.1016/j.crpv.2011.03.002.
^
abAntoine, P.-O.; Reyes, M. C.; Amano, N.; Bautista, A. P.; Chang, C.-H.; Claude, J.; De Vos, J.; Ingicco, T. (2021). "A new rhinoceros clade from the Pleistocene of Asia sheds light on mammal dispersals to the Philippines". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 194 (2): 416–430.
doi:
10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab009.