- Monocerus
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This article is about the legendary creature. For the constellation, see Monoceros.
The monocerus is a legendary animal with only one horn. It derives from the Greek word Μονόκερος, a compound word from μόνος (monos) which means one and κέρας (neuter gender, keras) which means horn. Although the name has been applied to a variety of genuine and mythological animals, it is usually applied to the unicorn[1] or rhinoceros. Medieval bestiaries describe the monocerus as "having a stag's head, a horse's body, an elephant's feet, a boar's tail, and a single very long black horn growing from the forehead. It makes deep lowing sounds. It is the enemy of the elephant and when fighting it aims at the belly of its opponent. The monocerus is probably based on the African or Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)".[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Monocerus". Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary. http://www.1828-dictionary.com/d/search/word,Monoceros. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
- ^ "Monocerus". The Medieval Bestiary. http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast165.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
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