With its 3D render revealed on the weekend, I am pleased to talk more about the paleobiology of Agate Spring’s most common ungulate. Menoceras, a unique mini rhinoceros, illustrates the incredible biodiversity of North American herbivores 20 million years ago.
Thread 1/7
Despite currently being restricted to just Africa and Asia, rhinos as a group initially evolved in the Americas during the Eocene, expanding into various shapes, sizes and niches there until about 5 million years ago (the last known North American rhino being Teleoceras). 2/7
Despite currently being restricted to just Africa and Asia, rhinos as a group initially evolved in the Americas during the Eocene, expanding into various shapes, sizes and niches there until about 5 million years ago (the last known North American rhino being Teleoceras). 2/7
Despite currently being restricted to just Africa and Asia, rhinos as a group initially evolved in the Americas during the Eocene, expanding into various shapes, sizes and niches there until about 5 million years ago (the last known North American rhino being Teleoceras). 2/7
Menoceras evolved at the peak of this arms race, spanning from Panama to New Jersey. Around tapir-size, this savanna-bound elasmotheriin shows distinct dimorphism in tusk and horn appearance, implying behavioral & dietary differences going on between the males and females. 3/7
Agate’s Menoceras were usually younger males while the females consisted of the oldest adults, suggesting that the youthful inexperienced bulls were more prone to mortality due to infighting and guarding territory, while cows likely lived longer (comparable to modern rhinos). 4/7
With around 16% of the Agate bonebeds consisting of just these mini-rhino fossils, it's quite possible that these animals associated in large gregarious herds when resources were more plentiful, similar to certain buffalo species. 5/7
With around 16% of the Agate bonebeds consisting of just these mini-rhino fossils, it's quite possible that these animals associated in large gregarious herds when resources were more plentiful, similar to certain buffalo species. 5/7
With around 16% of the Agate bonebeds consisting of just these mini-rhino fossils, it's quite possible that these animals associated in large gregarious herds when resources were more plentiful, similar to certain buffalo species. 5/7
Menoceras wasn’t the only Nebraskan rhinoceros, living with the rarer Diceratherium. It’s likely that this larger species preferred more forested areas to browse, while Menoceras was a generalized mixed feeder, as illustrated here by concept artist @dhruvfranklin 6/7
In conclusion, Menoceras and its extensive fossil record offers vital insight into the vibrant evolutionary trends rhinos were taking at the crux of their evolution. This species will serve an important role in the desolate ecosystem of #ForgottenBloodlinesAgate. 7/7
Credit for the art used in this thread:
Alexander James+Digital Duck (Max. B)
Charles Knight+Jimmy Franco+J.H. Matternes
Dhruv Franklin
Courtesy of the Denver Museum of Natural History and National Park Services
My literature references:
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Evolution-of-North-American-Rhinoceroses-Prothero/36ffd5ccf7d34af2a47f903988d8df0fcb4fd2a9

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40663606_Sexual_Dimorphism_and_Mortality_Bias_in_a_Small_Miocene_North_American_Rhino_Menoceras_arikarense_Insights_into_the_Coevolution_of_Sexual_Dimorphism_and_Sociality_in_Rhinos

https://www-jstor-org.proxyiub.uits.iu.edu/stable/3515305?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
(PDF) Sexual Dimorphism and Mortality Bias in a Small Miocene North American Rhino, Menoceras...

PDF | Rhinos are the only modern perissodactyls that possess cranial weapons similar to the horns, antlers and ossicones of modern ruminants. Yet,... | Find, read and cite all the research you need...

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Evolution-of-North-American-Rhinoceroses-Prothero/36ffd5ccf7d34af2a47f903988d8df0fcb4fd2a9
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