Why was Indricotherium the largest known land mammal?

Indricotherium is classified as the largest known land mammal due to its immense physical dimensions and estimated mass, which far exceeded those of any other terrestrial mammal in history.1

As a giant perissodactyl, it possessed a unique skeletal structure that supported its massive frame. Key factors contributing to its size include:1

• Stature: It stood approximately 5.5 metres (18 feet) high at the shoulder and reached 8 metres (26 feet) in length.1
• Mass: It weighed an estimated 30 tons, making it more than four times heavier than a modern elephant.1
• Anatomy: It featured massive, strongly constructed limbs and a long neck, which allowed it to browse on tree leaves and branches.1

While related to the modern rhinoceros, Indricotherium was hornless and possessed a skull exceeding 1.2 metres (4 feet) in length, though this was small in proportion to its overall body size.1