Natural History/Fossils: A Woolly Rhinoceros Skull (†Coelodonta antiquitatis), Late Pleistocene era, Russia, a large adult Woolly Rhinoceros complete skull, including lower jaw, overall length 85.5cm, overall height 45cm

Woolly Rhinoceros remains have been known long before the species was described, and were the basis for some mythical creatures. Native peoples of Siberia believed their horns were the claws of giant birds. One of the earliest scientific descriptions of an ancient rhinoceros species was made in 1769, when the naturalist Peter Simon Pallas wrote a report on his expeditions to Siberia where he found a skull and two horns in the permafrost. The Woolly Rhinoceros had a similar life history to modern rhinos. Studies on milk teeth show that individuals developed similarly to both the white and black rhinoceros. The two teats in the female suggest that she raised one calf, or more rarely two, every two to three years. If similar to modern rhinos, calves lived with their mother for around three years before searching for their own individual territory, reaching sexual maturity within five years. Woolly rhinoceroses could reach around 40 years of age, like their modern relatives. With their massive horns and size, adults had few predators, but young individuals could be attacked by animals such as Hyenas and Cave Lions. A skull was found with trauma indicating an attack from a feline, but the animal survived to adulthood.