Bruton, R., 1963. The rhinos of South-East Asia. Conservation News 1963 August: 5-10, figs. 1-6, maps 1-2
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World |
| Subject: |
Taxonomy - Evolution |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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Rhinos are very ancient creatures. They appeared on earth many millions of years ago and developed as part of a great horde of animals called the odd-toed ungulates. Though this group of mammals flourished in the past, covering the earth with a great variety of animals including many types of rhinoceroses, it has today almost disappeared. For reasons that are very poorly understood, these odd-toed ungulates could not meet the requirements of a changing environment and only the families of rhinoceroses, horses, and tapirs have survived. By comparison, the even-toed ungulates, which followed a distinct but very similar path of evolution, are today represented by all oxen, goats, sheep, pigs, deer, antelope, camels, hippopotami and many other less commonly known groups.
Since primitive times the ancestors of the horses have radically changed, developing long slender legs and hooves. It is not, in fact, until very recent times that the true horses appeared. The rhinos, however, have remained in a relatively primitive form, surviving by some unknown combination of characteristics eons of change in their environment, changes which have long since destroyed most of their near relatives, until very recently the rhinos have met a change which they will very likely not survive : the advent of ?civilized' man.
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The rhinos of South-East Asia
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