'Oldest' woolly rhino discovered

[WhiteTara]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14754317

A woolly rhino fossil dug up on the Tibetan Plateau is believed to be the oldest specimen of its kind yet found.

The creature lived some 3.6 million years ago - long before similar beasts roamed northern Asia and Europe in the ice ages that gripped those regions.

The discovery team says the existence of this ancient rhino supports the idea that the frosty Tibetan foothills of the Himalayas were the evolutionary cradle for these later animals.

snip

The rhino was found in Tibet's Zanda Basin. The area is rich in fossil beds, and this specimen was unearthed along with examples of extinct horse, antelope, snow leopard, badger and many other kinds of mammals.

The Tibetan woolly rhino fossil is in generally good condition, if a little misshapen

It has been put in a new species classification - Coelodonta thibetana.

[snooper2]

1. Aw, snuggle snuggle snuggle

you cute oversized woolly woolly :)

[hlthe2b]

2. Sad that with global warming, all that talk about cloning one...

would merely wind up with an animal that could not possibly survive in its former habitat (or anywhere remotely nearby) Given the melting of Arctic areas, I'm not sure it could survive anywhere.

Fascinating animals, though.

[Bryn]

3. What a beauty!

This ancient creature looks so awesome.

[Gregorian]

4. What an amazing and weird planet we live on.

Truly unique.