Abstract: The African black rhino, Diceros bicornis, once widespread across Africa has suffered a massive reduction in both numbers and range during the 20th century, but its origin and phylogenetic relationship remain debated. Here we report a primitive black rhino from the early Late Miocene of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China. The new species, Diceros gansuensis, has a brachycephalic skull,a bulbous nasal horn boss followed by a frontal one, anteriorly shortened nasals,a laterally inclined lower border of orbit,a vertical occipital surface,a strongly concave cranial dorsal profile,a very high occiput, and a marked paracone fold.