A new study proposes revision of Javan rhino

A new study has proposed a taxonomic revision of the critically endangered Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus).

Key Findings of the Study

• Proposed Genus Revision:
  • The study suggests that the Javan rhino should be reclassified under a new genus, Eurhinoceros, instead of remaining within the Rhinoceros genus alongside the Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis).
  • This is based on distinct differences in dentition, morphology, and evolutionary history between the two species.
• Evolutionary and Morphological Evidence:
  • Paleontologist Kurt Heißig and zoologist Francesco Nardelli analyzed fossils and ecological adaptations, showing that the Javan rhino follows a different evolutionary trajectory compared to the Indian rhino.
  • The study supports an earlier classification by Gray (1868), which had initially proposed the Eurhinoceros genus for the Javan rhino.
• Comparison with Other Rhinos:
  • There are five extant rhinoceros species across Africa and Asia:
    1. White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) – Two horns
    2. Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) – Two horns
    3. Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) – Two horns
    4. Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) – One horn
    5. Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) – One horn (subject of the proposed taxonomic revision)
  • While the Indian and Javan rhinos are both one-horned, the study suggests that the Javan rhino is a more primitive and distinct lineage.

(Source: Down To Earth)