Which type of extinct rhinoceros marks a key evolutionary step toward C. antiquitatis within the genus?

The Steppe Rhino (Coelodonta fossor or related ancestral forms)

The evolutionary history of the Woolly Rhino involves a gradual adaptation within the *Coelodonta* genus to increasingly cold and dry conditions. Ancient DNA analysis has helped map this progression. A significant transitional phase involved the evolution from earlier relatives toward the definitive *C. antiquitatis*. These direct ancestral forms are often referenced as the Steppe Rhino, designated by names such as *Coelodonta fossor* or other closely related ancestral species within the same genus lineage. The transition from these earlier forms to *C. antiquitatis* was characterized by an increasing specialization and adaptation geared specifically toward the colder, drier steppe environments, suggesting that the earlier versions may have been more comfortable in slightly warmer grasslands before the full height of the Ice Age arrived.