New species, revision, and phylogeny of Ronzotherium Aymard, 1854 (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae)

Ronzotherium is one of the earliest Rhinocerotidae in Europe, which first appeared just after Eocene/Oligocene transition (Grande Coupure), and became extinct at end Oligocene. It a large-sized rhinocerotid, with special position phylogeny this group, as being earliest-branching true Rhinocerotidae. However, its intra-generic systematics has never been tested through computational phylogenetic methods it basically unknown. Its taxonomical history gone numerous complications, thus we aim to provide here complete revision genus, methods. After re-examination all type specimens (five supposed species) well most well-preserved from over Europe ranging Oligocene epoch, performed parsimony analysis test some problematic specimens. According our results, five species can be distinguished, velaunum (type species), R. filholi, elongatum romani new species: heissigi sp. nov. We also drastically re-interpret anatomy show that ‘short-limbed’ “Diaceratherium” massiliae, described Southern France, considered junior synonym romani. Finally, exclude Asian “Ronzotherium” orientale brevirostre consider kochi filholi.