Embolotherium (name meaning "Battering-Ram Beast") is a genus of brontothere that originated during the Late Eocene epoch in what is now Africa and Asia. From hundreds of known specimens, this prehistoric perissodactyl, or "odd-toed" mammal, is related to a rhinoceros.
In the Series 3 episode "Big Blue Killer Whale," a herd of a dozen Embolotherium were brought to the park from Late Eocene, Africa 36 million years ago. They reside in the Giraffe Grasslands Enclosure.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
Embolotherium lived during the Late Eocene period from about 40 to 30 million years ago. It was first discovered by American Paleontologist Walter Granger in 1929.
Physical Attributes[]
Standing 2.5 metres tall and weighing up to 2 tons, Embolotherium were twice as big as a modern day rhinoceros.
Although Embolotherium were distantly related to horses and rhinos, these brontotheres were not much like either of them. They were twice as big modern rhinos with brains just 1/3 of size which meant Embolotherium was not the brightest of beasts in their environment. Still they were one of most successful groups of mammals of the Eocene and often lived in herds. In another differance from modern rhinos, the outgrowths on Embolotherium's nose was not horn or hair but bone which were more for show than for head butting, their bone crests were far to brittle for that.
Embolotherium skull
Behavior & Traits[]
Embolotherium lived in herds made up of hundreds of individuals for protection. Like most mammals, Embolotherium had a very strong bond with their offspring and would defend them for as long as they could.
Journal Entry[]
| “ | One of the largest animals of the Eocene, Embolotherium was one of the first large mammals to live. Although they were distantly related to horses and rhinos, Embolotherium wasn't much like either of the two species. They were twice as big as modern rhinos with brains just 1/3 of the size, which meant Embolotherium wasn't the brightest of beasts. Still they were one of the most successful groups of mammals in the Eocene. Embolotherium were found across the northern hemisphere in herds of hundreds, however during a drought some herds were put into a sorry state.
In another differance to rhinos, the outgrowths on Embolotherium's nose were not horn or hair, but bone which were more for show rather than head butting. The bone crests were far to brittle for fighting. Female Embolotherium were fiercely protective to their calves when predators like Andrewsarchus tried to attack them even when they are dead. Like most mammals, Embolotherium had a very strong bond with their offsprings and would have defended them for as long as they can. |
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| — Allen Johnson, in his journal about Embolotherium | ||
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The sound effects of Embolotherium are that of stock rhinoceros as well as bull, camel, moose, and walrus sound effects.
- Embolotherium is the first largest mammal and the first brontothere brought to the park.