How does the lineage separation of Coelodonta antiquitatis relate to modern rhinos like the Sumatran or Javan rhinos?

The lineage separated from modern rhino ancestors much earlier than often assumed.

The evolutionary history of the Woolly Rhino reveals a deep divergence from the ancestors of extant rhino species. Scientifically classified under the genus *Coelodonta*, this group represents a line that colonized Asia long before the ancestors of rhinoceroses currently found in places like Sumatra or Java made their evolutionary appearance or dominated certain niches. Morphologically and genetically, *C. antiquitatis* is distant from the rhinos we recognize today. The deep antiquity implied by its genus name, *antiquitatis*, reflects this early splitting event. Understanding this ancient divergence highlights that the Woolly Rhino was highly specialized on its own evolutionary trajectory suited for the Ice Age, making its relationship to modern, generally more tropical or subtropical rhino species much more distant in time than casual comparison might suggest.