To which specific extinct subfamily does Paraceratherium belong within Rhinocerotidae?
Answer
Hyracodontinae
Paraceratherium is classified within the subfamily Hyracodontinae, a group recognized as having diverged relatively early in the evolutionary history leading to modern rhinoceroses. This early separation explains the striking morphological differences between Paraceratherium and later, smaller rhinos. While this lineage achieved extreme gigantism, it ultimately reached an evolutionary dead end as a massive form; it is not considered a direct ancestor to the modern Sumatran or Javan rhinos. The Hyracodontines were specialized for the environments of the Oligocene, and their lineage terminated after those environments shifted.
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Paraceratherium - The Rhino That Grew Bigger Than Dinosaurs
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