What is the maximum estimated mass cited for Paraceratherium specimens?
Answer
Up to 20 tons
Paraceratherium held the title of one of the largest, if not the largest, land mammals known to have existed, reaching immense proportions. Estimates suggest that these colossal creatures could attain masses reaching up to 20 tons. This size drastically overshadows modern megaherbivores; for instance, the largest African bush elephant typically weighs around six tons, and the modern white rhino rarely exceeds three and a half tons. This vast difference in bulk illustrates the extreme gigantism achieved by Paraceratherium during its time, contrasting sharply with the reduced sizes of extant rhino species today.

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Paraceratherium - The Rhino That Grew Bigger Than Dinosaurs
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Within which scientific family is Paraceratherium firmly placed by scientific consensus?What is the maximum estimated mass cited for Paraceratherium specimens?What anatomical evidence conclusively ties Paraceratherium to the rhino lineage?Paraceratherium belongs to the same taxonomic order as which extant ungulates?During which geological epoch did the extinct massive rhino, Paraceratherium, flourish?What defining feature, associated with modern rhinoceroses, is completely missing in Paraceratherium?Which term is explicitly listed as an alternative designation for Paraceratherium besides Indricotherium?To which specific extinct subfamily does Paraceratherium belong within Rhinocerotidae?What specific foot structure is Paraceratherium's limb arrangement derived from, despite its differences?How did Paraceratherium's shoulder height compare to the modern giraffe's head height?What environmental shift led to the contraction of forests supporting Hyracodontines like Paraceratherium?