Ceratotherium

Ceratotherium (from Greek: keras κέρας "horn" and thērion θηρίον "beast") is a genus within the family Rhinocerotidae. It comprises one living species, the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), and several extinct fossil species that trace its evolutionary lineage.

The genus Ceratotherium belongs to the tribe Dicerotini (also spelled Diceroti) or subtribe Dicerotina, indicating a closer evolutionary relationship to the genus Diceros (which includes the black rhinoceros) than to other extant rhinoceros genera.

The evolutionary history of Ceratotherium includes several recognized and debated fossil species:

Other potential early relatives and disputed species:

The earliest fossils definitively attributed to the extant white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) date to the Early Pleistocene in East Africa, approximately 1–2 million years ago, although the exact timing can vary depending on which specific fossil remains are included in the species' diagnosis.