Brontotheres - Brontotherium - Artist's view of Brontotheres (Brontotherium) in a North American landscape 35...

Brontotheres - Brontotherium - Artist's view of Brontotheres (Brontotherium) in a North American landscape 35 million years ago. An Oligocene Brontotherium leaves his forest habitat in search of a vegetarian meal. 35 million years ago North America was home to brontotheres, a family of large herbivores that looked somewhat like giant rhinoceroses, but probably were more closely related to horses. Brontotherium ('thunder beast') was one such genus of these prehistoric mammals. Characterized by a massive forked or sling-shot shaped horn, Brontotherium stood about eight feet tall at the shoulder and weighed about two tons. Brontotherium's name comes from Sioux Native Americans who discovered their skeletons following their exposure by severe rain storms. The Sioux believed Brontotherium caused thunderstorms by running across the top of the clouds