Woolly Rhino Colouring Page

The woolly rhinoceros, Coelodonta antiquitatis, lived across the cold open landscapes of Europe and northern Asia. Its fossils, cave paintings and frozen bodies show an animal superbly adapted to the Ice Age. Adults were roughly comparable to a large modern rhinoceros, often about two metres high at the shoulder and several tonnes in weight. Short legs, small ears, a high shoulder hump and a thick coat reduced heat loss. The front horn was extraordinarily long and flattened from side to side, while a smaller second horn grew behind it. Wear marks suggest the front horn may sometimes have swept snow aside to reach dry grass. Broad lips and strong cheek teeth suited a grazing diet on the treeless mammoth-steppe. The woolly rhinoceros survived in northeastern Siberia until about 14,000 years ago. No individual had a recorded name. A remarkable piece of woolly rhino tissue preserved inside an ancient wolf pup shows that some of the last animals still had healthy genetic diversity. This supports a rapid final decline rather than thousands of years of severe inbreeding. As the climate warmed quickly, moist tundra, shrubs and forests replaced much of the dry grassland that supplied its food. People knew and sometimes hunted woolly rhinos, but current evidence does not show hunting alone caused extinction. Scientists therefore give habitat change a leading role while keeping other pressures in the discussion. Choose dark brown, reddish brown, charcoal or warm grey for the heavy coat. Add a lighter tan to the belly, cheeks and lower legs. Use short strokes that follow the fur from shoulder to tail, leaving white highlights on the hump. The horns can be ivory, cream or pale brown; a slightly darker line along the lower edge will show their flattened shape. Colour the tundra grasses gold and olive, the hills pale blue or lavender, and the rocks grey and rust. The raven can be blue-black or purple-black, but leave a small white shine on its feathers. Smooth strokes along the horns and rougher strokes on the coat will make their textures different. Keep the lowered head and huge front horn clear, because they are the animal's most memorable adaptations.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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