Fossil evidence shows that the two-horned rhinoceros once roamed the plains of North America in great numbers. The bones and tooth wear seen in this bone bed reveal a mix of juveniles, mature adults and older individuals.
Story
About a hundred years ago paleontologists discovered this spectacular bone bed of fossil rhinoceros bones and skulls in western Nebraska. These represent rhinoceroses that lived in North America about 20 million years ago. These bone beds were excavated in large chunks and they were sent to different museums all around the country and the one you see on display here is one that was given to us early on when we developed our collections of fossil vertebrates.
Bruce MacFadden
Curator, Vertebrate Paleontology
Distinguished Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
Summary
Rhinoceros Bone Bed (Menoceras)
From Western Nebraska
Lived ~20 million years ago
Exhibit Area
Theme
Rhinos of the Past