Rhinoceros is a genus comprising one-horned rhinoceroses. This scientific name was proposed by Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The genus contains two species, the Indian rhinoceros (R. unicornis) and the Javan rhinoceros (R. 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" means "nose-horn" in Ancient Greek. -->

Etymology

The generic name Rhinoceros comes from the Ancient Greek words ῥινο- (rhino-), meaning "of the nose" and κέρας (kerás), meaning "horn".

Classification

The genus Rhinoceros comprises:

  • Indian rhinoceros (R. unicornis) Southeast Asia
  • †R. sivalensis <small>Falconer and Cautley, 1846</small> northern Indian subcontinent (Siwalik Hills) Pliocene-Early Pleistocene
  • †R. platyrhinus <small>Falconer and Cautley 1847</small> syn Punjabitherium <small>Khan (1971)</small> Upper Siwaliks, Indian subcontinent, Early Pleistocene to early Middle Pleistocene, India. Largest species in the genus.
  • †R. sinensis <small>Owen, 1870</small> has been used as a wastebasket taxon used to refer to rhinoceros material from the Pleistocene of China, with various specimens belong to other Rhinoceros species, Dicerorhinus and Stephanorhinus, though it is possible that some remains attributed to Rhinoceros sinensis represents a valid and distinct species of Rhinoceros.

The earliest remains of the genus are known from the Late Miocene, represented by remains such as an indeterminate species found in deposits in Myanmar dating to around 8-9 million years ago.

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. While Rhinoceros fusuiensis <small>Yan et al. 2014</small> from the Early Pleistocene of South China has been transferred to Dicerorhinus.

Relationships among Late Pleistocene and modern rhinoceros genera, based on nuclear DNA, after Liu et al, 2021:

Bayesian morphological phylogeny after Pandolfi, 2023 Note: This excludes living African rhinoceros species.