''Gaindatherium'' is an extinct genus of
rhinocerotid that lived in
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
during the
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...
. It is mainly known from the
Siwalik Hills in
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
, though its fossils have been found as far west as the
Negev desert
The Negev ( ; ) or Naqab (), is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and the resort town, resort city ...
.
Description
''Gaindatherium'' is believed to be the direct ancestor of the genus ''
Rhinoceros
A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...
''. Among the features it shares with that genus are arched nasal bones that helped support its single horn and a forward-inclined back of skull. Its skull is longer and narrower compared to ''Rhinoceros'', with more primitive brachyodont teeth.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2697920
Miocene mammals of Asia
Miocene rhinoceroses