The field work held in Namangan, the Fergana Valley revealed carcasses of Indricotherium, the ancient progenitors of rhinoceroses.
In the result of the examination of the earliest animal carcasses found at the depth of 10 meters, the scientists came to conclusion that the progenitors had belonged to the ancient representative of the Indricotherium species.
Scientists classify the Indricotherium to the ancient race of mammls of the rhinoceros family populated the earth 30,000,000-20,000,000 years ago. They mainly inhabited the territory of Central Asia. Indricotheria came to 8 m in height and 20 t in weight and considered the largest among the ancient land mammals. In comparison with modern rhinoceroses the Indricotheria had no horn and had short body and long neck which sometimes attained to 5 m high owing to which they were able to obtain food from very hard-to-reach places. Fruits and leaves of trees served them as food. The only feature common for them and the modern rhinoceroses is tridactyl forelimb and dental structure.
Its unusual name, the ancient rhinoceros progenitor got from Indrik, the notable hero of the Old Russian and Slavonic legends. Hence this ancient indigenously Russian name originated from this horned animal - unicorn. The majority of the Indricotherium carcasses were found in the territory of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China.
