Elasmotherium

Elasmotherium was a real prehistoric giant, a massive rhinoceros species that roamed Eurasian steppes until roughly 29,000 years ago. Often linked to unicorn legends because of its enormous single horn—estimated by some reconstructions to be over three feet long—it has occasionally drifted into cryptid territory through claims of survival into historical times. Russian peasants’ stories of giant, shaggy beasts with singular horns have fueled speculation that relict populations might have persisted far longer than the fossil record suggests. While modern paleontology finds no evidence for such survival, the Elasmotherium remains a favorite among cryptozoologists hoping to tether ancient legends of unicorns to a tangible source. It stands at a fascinating crossroads between fact and folklore, reminding us how remnants of genuine Ice Age megafauna continue to haunt human imagination.