Middle Pleistocene protein sequences from the rhinoceros genus<i>Stephanorhinus</i>and the phylogeny of extant and extinct Middle/Late Pleistocene Rhinocerotidae

Abstract

The first biomolecular dataset available for <i>Stephanorhinus</i> places this genus together with the extinct genus <i>Coelodonta</i> and the extant genus <i>Dicerorhinus</i>. This is in agreement with morphological studies, although we are unable to resolve the order of divergence between these genera based on the protein sequences available. Our data supports the placement of the genus <i>Dicerorhinus</i> in a clade together with extant <i>Rhinoceros</i> species. Finally, the availability of protein sequence data for both extinct European rhinoceros genera allows future investigations into their geographic distribution and extinction chronologies.