(idea) by Gorgonzola Thu Apr 25 2002 at 1:02:09
Superkingdom Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Verterbrata
Class Mammalia
Subclass Eutheria
Superorder Ungulata
Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
Suborder Ceratomorpha (rhinos and tapirs)
Family Rhinocerotidae

The rhinoceros family, containing five modern species in four genera.   Rhinocerotidae are large and bulky, with short stumpy legs, thick folded skin, and one or two hardened tufts of hair serving as horns protruding from the snout. Although rhinoceroses were one of the most successful families of the Cenozoic Era, all five modern species are endangered, having being hunted nearly to extinction for their horns.

Subfamily Dicerotinae:

  • Diceros (Pleistocene - Present)
    • D. bicornis (Black Rhinoceros or "Hook-lipped Rhinoceros") (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED)
  • Dicerorhinus (Oligocene - Present)
    • D. kirchbergensis (Merk's Rhinoceros) (Pleistocene - Holocene, EXTINCT, hunted out of existence by early man)
  • Ceratotherium (Pleistocene - Present)
    • C. simum (White Rhinoceros or "Square-lipped Rhinoceros") (ENDANGERED)
      • C. simium cottoni (Northern White Rhinoceros) (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED)
      • C. simium simuim (Southern White Rhinoceros) (ENDANGERED)
Subfamily Rhinocerotinae: Extinct rhinoceros genera include: The extinct genera Hyracodon (Eocene - Oligocene). Indricotherium (Oligocene - Miocene), and Paraceratherium (Oligocene, aka Baluchitherium)  are sometimes placed in Rhiniocerotidae but belong in the family Hyrachyidae instead.

The extinct genera Amynodon (Eocene), Cadurcotherium (Oligocene), Metamnyodon (Oligocene) have been moved to Amynodontidae.

Illinois State Academy of Science, Kingdoms project, Rhinocerodiae throughout time
http://www.il-st-acad-sci.org/mammals/mami004w.html

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Animal Diversity Web
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/chordata/mammalia/perissodactyla/rhinocerotidae.html

I like it! 4 C!s