Titov V.V., Baigusheva V.S., Uchytel’ R.S. 2021. The experience in reconstructing of the head of Elasmotherium (Rhinocerotidae) // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.20. No.2. P.173–182 [in English].
Vadim V. Titov [vvtitov@yandex.ru], Southern Scientific Centre RAS, Chekhov str. 41, Rostov-on-Don 344006, Russia; Southern Federal university, Rostov-on-Don, Russia; Vera S. Baigusheva, [paleorostov@yandex.ru], Azov Historical, Archaeological and Paleontological Museum-Reserve, Moskovskaya str. 38/40, Azov 346780, Russia; Roman S. Uchitel’, [roman.uchytel@gmail.com], Prehistoric Fauna Studio, Klochkivska str., 148 A, Kharkiv 61145, Ukraine.
doi: 10.15298/ rusjtheriol.20.2.06
ABSTRACT. We have reconstructed Elasmotherium’s head based on complete intact skulls morphology analysis. The bony protuberance on the frontal bone was covered with a horny substance that protected the dome’s relatively thin bones. The keratinized cover grew from the base, clearly visible in the lower part of the bony dome, and its top was displaced dorso-aborally. The dome’s inner surface was an overgrown nasal cavity and served to intensify sense of smell, and, possibly, enhance sounds emitted. A relatively small narrow terminal horn-like cornified pad was attached at nasal and intermaxillary bones’ end, it served to loosen and dig up soil for lants’ succulent underground parts searching. Powerful muscles were especially prominent on the neck, they used to carry out lateral and dorsolateral movements of the head.
KEY WORDS: Elasmotherium, Pleistocene, appearance reconstruction, skull, muscles, habit of life.