The Mudhorn from The Mandalorian episode 2 was apparently based on a real-life animal that existed over two million years ago. This wouldn't be the first time an animal was the inspiration for a Star Wars creature or alien. Considering how many aliens and creatures exist in the franchise, it makes sense that the creators would look to real-life animals for insight.
In the second episode of the Disney+ series, Mando (Pedro Pascal) was put in a difficult situation by the Jawas, who sent him off to retrieve an egg. The task given to him by the Jawas forced Mando into a tough battle with a powerful and feared creature known as the Mudhorn. The large beast resembled a rhino, but had a much larger horn and fur all over his body. After a challenging fight with the Mudhorn, Mando lost, and was nearly killed by the beast. Fortunately, he was rescued by Baby Yoda, who lifted the Mudhorn with the Force, allowing Mando to kill the creature with his vibroblade. The Mudhorn was later used as the signet for Mando's new Mandalorian clan.
Though a fearsome beast who is perhaps the most challenging obstacle faced yet by Mando, the Mudhorn isn't just a product of science fiction. He looks nearly identical to the Elasmotherium, an extinct species of rhino that lived over two million years ago. The creature is also known as a Siberian unicorn. First discovered in 1809, the Elasmotherium is believed to have existed in Eastern Europe and parts of China. It supposedly flourished until around 39,000 years ago.
The Elasmotherium is a close relative of the woolly rhino, as evident by the fact that both are covered in fur. Like all rhinos, the Elasmotherium was a herbivore, but one thing that separated it from the rhino was the length of its legs. Its longer legs gave it more speed and a horse-like gait. It also possessed an enormous horn on its head, as opposed to the rhino, which had a comparably smaller horn, and an even smaller horn behind it.
Physical characteristics of the Siberian unicorn are shared by The Mandalorian's Mudhorn. As previously noted, Star Wars has been known to take an animal and use it as the basis for one of its creatures, and the Mudhorn is no exception. The bantha, the acklay, the eopie, the tauntaun, the vulptex, and even the porg are connected to animals from real life. But the real-life connections for most of these Star Wars creatures can be easily recognized due to the fact that the animals they were inspired by are, for the most part, still living, unlike the Mudhorn. The Mudhorn, on the other hand, was so imposing, seemingly unique in appearance, and powerful, that it's easy to understand why he may have been mistaken for a totally original monster.