In this webpage we will describe our predictions of future rhinoceroses' evolution. Before we give our predictions though, here is some background of the rhinoceros:
What is a rhinoceros's current structure?
Rhinoceroses have prenhensile lips, one horn, small eyes and ears, grey skin, stumpy legs, and an armor plated appearance. They have been a scientific interest since the early eighteen hundreds. Their most commonly studdied features are their horns, skins, and muscles. Even though these a benefits for the rhino, they have become a primary target for poachers and huntsmen.
Its horn is one of its most prized features. It is made of corded keratin, the same material as humans' hair and nails. Their horn isn't attached to their skeleton. It grows throughout their lifetime and can repair itself if it gets damaged. They are used for defensive, offensive, and utility purposes.
Past Evolutions of the Rhino
The rhinoceros has had multiple phases in evolution already. They began as rhinocerotoids diverged from other perissodactyls. The rhinocerotoid then evolved into 3 different families: Hyracodontidae, Amynodontidae, and the family of all modern rhinos, the Rhinocerotidae. The Hyracodontidae had speed adaptations and were similar to a horse. Some of the species of this family were small and some were large. The Amynodontidae were similar to hippos; they were pretty much just rhinos that inhabited bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. The Rhinocerotidae was the largest group, but only 2 species survived a period of glaciation. The 2 species that survived were the wooly rhinoceros and the Elasmotherium. The wooly rhinoceros was hunted by humans and eventually became extinct. The Elasmotherium (giant rhinoceros) survived. It had a single large horn, long legs for running, and was overall large. The only two living species of African rhinoceroses (which is the majority of rhinos) are the Black Rhinoceros and the White Rhinoceros.
Now that you have a background information about rhinoceroses, here are the problems they are currently facing and how our predicted evolutions can solve these problems:
Current Problems Rhinoceroses are Facing
Currently, rhinoceroses face one major problem: human poachers. Human poachers use guns and breach through illegal conservation areas to kill the rhinoceroses for their horns. Sadly, the rhinoceroses are not able to defend themselves well. They have good hearing and smell, but bad eyesight which would probably be more important when it comes to human predators. They also have a horn which isn't placed in the most useful area. Their major flaw in their structure would be their short legs. They aren't able to run as well with short legs which makes it harder to dodge incoming predators. Plus, some small organisms are able to gather blood through their skin. We think the rhinoceroses will evolve so these problems won't be as detrimental.
Our predictions for the Rhinoceroses' Future Evolution
We predict that the rhinos will go through multiple adaptations to improve their ability to survive. First off, we think their legs will become longer so they can run and dodge things (such as bullets from the weapons human poachers are using) quicker. We also predict that it will grow a larger neck and its horn will move to their forehead, which will make it easier to defend itself and attack others if necessary. Finally, we believe that they will have bigger eyes for better eyesight and their skin will become rougher and thicker so parasites can't gather blood through their skin. All of these adaptations should make it easier for the rhinoceroses to survive. The evolved rhinoceros will be called a "Uniceros" because it has a structure somewhat similar to the fantasy creature known as a "Unicorn"
How the 3 Steps of Speciation affects our predicted Rhino Evolution
The first step of Speciation, Separation, does not really play a role in the rhinoceros's predicted evolution. The reason for this is because the rhinos live on large, flat areas of lands known as plains. There isn't much that could separate the rhinos from each other.
The next step of Speciations is Adaptation. The rhinos that don't adapt will probably become extinct because they are endangered and with their current structure it is harder to defend themselves from human poachers. The "Uniceros" will be able to defend themselves better and will not die as often as the non-adapted rhinos, so eventually, they will probably become the only species of the rhinoceros that is still existing.
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What is a rhinoceros's current structure?
Rhinoceroses have prenhensile lips, one horn, small eyes and ears, grey skin, stumpy legs, and an armor plated appearance. They have been a scientific interest since the early eighteen hundreds. Their most commonly studdied features are their horns, skins, and muscles. Even though these a benefits for the rhino, they have become a primary target for poachers and huntsmen.
Its horn is one of its most prized features. It is made of corded keratin, the same material as humans' hair and nails. Their horn isn't attached to their skeleton. It grows throughout their lifetime and can repair itself if it gets damaged. They are used for defensive, offensive, and utility purposes.
Past Evolutions of the Rhino
The rhinoceros has had multiple phases in evolution already. They began as rhinocerotoids diverged from other perissodactyls. The rhinocerotoid then evolved into 3 different families: Hyracodontidae, Amynodontidae, and the family of all modern rhinos, the Rhinocerotidae. The Hyracodontidae had speed adaptations and were similar to a horse. Some of the species of this family were small and some were large. The Amynodontidae were similar to hippos; they were pretty much just rhinos that inhabited bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. The Rhinocerotidae was the largest group, but only 2 species survived a period of glaciation. The 2 species that survived were the wooly rhinoceros and the Elasmotherium. The wooly rhinoceros was hunted by humans and eventually became extinct. The Elasmotherium (giant rhinoceros) survived. It had a single large horn, long legs for running, and was overall large. The only two living species of African rhinoceroses (which is the majority of rhinos) are the Black Rhinoceros and the White Rhinoceros.
Now that you have a background information about rhinoceroses, here are the problems they are currently facing and how our predicted evolutions can solve these problems:
Current Problems Rhinoceroses are Facing
Currently, rhinoceroses face one major problem: human poachers. Human poachers use guns and breach through illegal conservation areas to kill the rhinoceroses for their horns. Sadly, the rhinoceroses are not able to defend themselves well. They have good hearing and smell, but bad eyesight which would probably be more important when it comes to human predators. They also have a horn which isn't placed in the most useful area. Their major flaw in their structure would be their short legs. They aren't able to run as well with short legs which makes it harder to dodge incoming predators. Plus, some small organisms are able to gather blood through their skin. We think the rhinoceroses will evolve so these problems won't be as detrimental.
Our predictions for the Rhinoceroses' Future Evolution
We predict that the rhinos will go through multiple adaptations to improve their ability to survive. First off, we think their legs will become longer so they can run and dodge things (such as bullets from the weapons human poachers are using) quicker. We also predict that it will grow a larger neck and its horn will move to their forehead, which will make it easier to defend itself and attack others if necessary. Finally, we believe that they will have bigger eyes for better eyesight and their skin will become rougher and thicker so parasites can't gather blood through their skin. All of these adaptations should make it easier for the rhinoceroses to survive. The evolved rhinoceros will be called a "Uniceros" because it has a structure somewhat similar to the fantasy creature known as a "Unicorn"
How the 3 Steps of Speciation affects our predicted Rhino Evolution
The first step of Speciation, Separation, does not really play a role in the rhinoceros's predicted evolution. The reason for this is because the rhinos live on large, flat areas of lands known as plains. There isn't much that could separate the rhinos from each other.
The next step of Speciations is Adaptation. The rhinos that don't adapt will probably become extinct because they are endangered and with their current structure it is harder to defend themselves from human poachers. The "Uniceros" will be able to defend themselves better and will not die as often as the non-adapted rhinos, so eventually, they will probably become the only species of the rhinoceros that is still existing.
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Works Cited
Dykes, Jeffrey, and David Catchpoole. "Evolution of the Rhinoceros? Preposterous!" CMI Mobile. Creation Ministries International, 30 Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Grove, Amanda. "Survival of the Rhino." BrightHub. Bright Hub Inc., 14 July 2011. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Rhinoceros Anatomy." FusionTheme. Bio Expedition, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Rhinoceros." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "STOP RHINO POACHING NOW!" STOP RHINO POACHING NOW! Stop Rhino Poaching, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation,n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Dykes, Jeffrey, and David Catchpoole. "Evolution of the Rhinoceros? Preposterous!" CMI Mobile. Creation Ministries International, 30 Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Grove, Amanda. "Survival of the Rhino." BrightHub. Bright Hub Inc., 14 July 2011. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Rhinoceros Anatomy." FusionTheme. Bio Expedition, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Rhinoceros." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "STOP RHINO POACHING NOW!" STOP RHINO POACHING NOW! Stop Rhino Poaching, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Unknown. "Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation,n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.