How does Arsinoitherium's mass compare to the modern African bush elephant and modern rhinoceroses?
Answer
Much heavier than a modern rhino, but below the weight of an African bush elephant
Comparing Arsinoitherium's estimated weight of over 2,600 kg to modern megafauna reveals its placement in the weight hierarchy. It significantly surpassed the heft of any modern land rhinoceros species, justifying comparisons in terms of sheer poundage when considering bulk. However, it did not reach the extreme weights seen in the absolute largest modern land mammals. The African bush elephant, which can weigh upwards of 6,000 kilograms, clearly outclasses Arsinoitherium in total mass. Therefore, while Arsinoitherium was a giant for its time and region, the largest extant elephant represents a tier of weight it had not reached.
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