 Black Rhinoceros
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scientific name
Diceros bicornis
size/weight/height
Length: 10'
Weight: maximum 3000 lbs.
adaptations/coloration
Color: skin dull-dark gray
Appearance: color of soil due to fondness for mud & dust baths
Eyesight: poor
Foot: 3 toes
Forage: browser " uses prehensile upper lip " must drink daily " hindgut fermentation allows high fiber diet
Hearing: keen
Horn: most conspicuous " 2 horns " longest horn in front " dense aggregation of keratin fibers (human fingernail)
Legs: short " stout " capable of charge 30 mph maximum
Smell: keen " primary method of detecting danger
Teeth: none in front
behavior
solitary
Bath: love mud & dust baths " provides cooling & protection from biting insects
Movement: morning & evening " midday rest & sleep
Personality: reputation of unprovoked aggression & sudden intruder charging
reproduction/lifespan
Sexual Maturity: male 7 - 8 yrs. (dominant status 10 yrs.) " female 5-7 yrs.
Courtship: male trumpets when female is in heat
Birth Interval: 2-4 yrs.
Gestation: 15 mos.
Young: 1 " ~88 lbs.
Parenting: strong bond between mother & most recent young " young stay with mother for 2 yrs. in wild
diet
Herbivore
Wild: plant foliage
Zoo: alfalfa, apples, carrots, hoof-stock pellets, lettuce, vitamin supplements & leaves & twigs from zoo keepers (run excitedly around enclosure when they see zoo keeper with choice "tidbits")
habitat/range
savanna " forest " Cape to Somalia
status
US Endangered " CITES App I " SSP participant " considered the worlds most endangered mammal; In 1970 - 65,000 " currently ~3500
Greatest Threat: poaching for horn " India, China & Far East horn is used in folk medicine as cure for headaches, fever & as an aphrodisiac " can bring $24,000/ea. in Far East " in North Yemen horn used as dagger handles - sign of status among men
" White Rhino more abundant than Black Rhino
other
5 species worldwide:
Africa:
Black - 2 horns " longest horn in front " prehensile lip for browsing
White - 2 horns " longest horn in front " broad lips for grazing
Asia:
Sumatran - 2 horns " longest horn in back " hairy
Indian - 1 horn " heavy folds of skin give armored appearance
Javan - 1 horn " heavy folds of skin " much smaller than Indian rhino
oregon zoo exhibit
Africa Savanna
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