Geologists and archaeologists in east China's Shandong Province have excavated a fossilized pregnant hornless rhinoceros with a history of 18 million years in Shandong's Linqu County.

Archaeologists dug out the fossil during a recent excavation at the Shanwang Ruins of Ancient Extinct Life, 22 kilometers northeast of the Linqu County in central Shandong. The Shanwang ruins are the sole well-preserved geological ruins of the Miocene Epoch in east China.

The fossilized mother rhinoceros, 2.7 meters long and 1.7 meters high, was well preserved and the fetus rhinoceros, only 0.7meters in length, was still lying in its mother's belly, with its teeth and skeleton almost fully developed.

The fetus was believed to have died eight mouths before it was born, said Li Fenglin, a professor with the China Geological University, who took part in the recent excavation.

"It is rare to discover a fossilized rhinocerose with a fetus anywhere in the world," he said.

Records show that hornless rhinoceroses were the ancestors of modern rhinoceros, which fall into the category of mammals. The hornless rhinoceros is characterized by short limbs, odd-numbered toes and thick amour-like hide. This kind of rhinoceros gives birth to one cub each time and its pregnancy lasts 15 to 18 months.

The Shanwang ruins are located in a region with active volcanic activities in the Cenozoic Era, about 20 million years ago. The ancient rhinoceros might have been the victim of a volcanic eruption.

Li and his colleagues also found the fossils of ancient deer, spiders, scorpions and diatoms, altogether about 700 kinds of animals and plants.

The fossil of the pregnant hornless rhinoceros is now housed by the museum of Linqu County and will soon be shown to visitors.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2005)