Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros are large, horny creatures exist from an early time in history. They are commonly known as rhinos and are the largest living mammals, second to elephants in their height at the shoulder. In our imagination, it is a ripping animal with a wholesome strength. But, most of the time, this appalling creature peacefully browses the vegetation.

Scientific Classification of Rhinoceros

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Perissodactyla
Family	Rhinocerotidae

Different Species of Rhinoceros

It’s the rhino’s clock to speak about the rhino species. Throughout the early ages, about 100 species of rhinoceros existed. But today, only five species of rhinoceros are present within three genera. Each species has a different personality and characteristics.

Names

Description

White Rhinoceros

(Ceratotherium simum)

They are the two-horned, square-lipped rhinos. One horn is long, while the second is short. They are found in North and South Africa.

The weight is 1800 to 2500 kg.
The population is 17,464.
Shoulder Height: 5.9 to 6.6 ft.
Body Length: 11 to 15 ft.

Black Rhinoceros

(Diceros bicornis)

Black rhinos are also two-horned mammals found in Africa. They are smaller than their African counterparts.

The weight is 900 to 1350 kg.
The population is 6421.
Shoulder Height: 59 to 69 inches.
Body Length: 11 to 13 ft.

Indian Rhinoceros

(Rhinoceros unicornis)

They are semi-aquatic, one-horned rhinos found in India and Nepal. The unicorn in their name is adopted for their one horn.

The weight is 1800 to 2500 kg.
The population is 4018.
Shoulder Height: 5.7 to 6.6 ft.
Body Length: 10 to 13 ft.

Java Rhinoceros

(Rhinoceros sondaicus)

It is the rarest large mammal present on land, found only in Java (Indonesia).

The weight is 900 to 2300 kg.
The population is only 50.
Shoulder Height: 4.11 to 5.7 ft.
Body Length: 10 ft.

Sumatran Rhinoceros

(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

The smallest in all species with a wooly body. They have two small horns. They are present in Sumatra and Borneo.

The weight is 500 to 960 kg.
The population is 35 to 45.
Shoulder Height: 4.3 ft.
Body Length: 7.10 to 10.7 ft.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Weight: Size and weight vary with species. The largest species is the White Rhinoceros, with fifteen feet in length. In contrast, the smallest is the Sumatran rhinoceros, ten feet long. Females are slightly smaller than male partners.

Speed: Despite their bulk, the rhinoceros are Thunders and run at 50-55 km/h.

Head and Horns: They have a large head, short neck, and small eyes. Horns are present at the nose spot and comprise keratin, not bones. Three rhino species have two horns, while the other two are one-horned.

Body and Skin: Rhinoceros has a large, bulky body with a broad chest, solid legs and hoofed feet to support its musculature. The skin of rhinos is thick but sensitive because the blood vessels are close to the skin’s surface. Their skin color ranges from yellowish brown to slate grey.

Clear the misunderstanding of black and white. The name of black rhinos is adopted for this reason. The black and white rhinos are found in the same region, so they are named black and white rhinos to avoid confusion. However, their skin color is similar to other species.

Distribution and Habitat

Geographically, Rhinoceros are found in the two continents, Asia and Africa. Three species, including Indian, Javan, and Sumatran Rhinoceros, are present in various regions of Asia. The other two species, White and Black Rhinoceros exist in North and South Africa. They inhabit tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs, deserts, moist broadleaf forests, and high and lowland tropical and subtropical forests. They prefer to live near the water resource.

Why Are They Called Rhinoceros?

Are you familiar with the term “rhinoceros”? These heavily muscled animals got this name because of their featured horns. The term comes from the Greek language in which ‘rhino’ means nose and ‘ceros’ means horn. It is smooth and made up of keratin, the same material that forms our skin, fingernails, and hairs. Horns grow back if they break offs like our nails.

Diet and Digestion

These fearsome creatures are herbivores and feed on leaves, grasses, roots, and fruits. They use their horns to dig up roots and startled trees to get better vegetation. They spend most of their time grazing and browsing. They are monogastric, like zebras and elephants. The digestion happens through bacterial fermentation, and excess is pelleted to defecation.

Behavioural Adaptations

Social behaviour

Rhinoceros are solitary animals. Usually, they tend to be alone but sometimes socialize in groups. The group of rhinoceros is called Crash and it’s suitable for them. White rhinos socialize in groups of 10 to 15 members. They live in homeranges and will overlap with each other to share the food grounds and mud sections.

Wallowing

These lumbering mammals are fond of rolling in the mud. They spend half of their time in water and mud to cool themselves. The reason behind wallowing is to protect their skin from rashes and scratches caused by sunlight and insects.

Communication

Rhinos have poor vision but good smelling and hearing sense. Their crash uses a variety of calls to communicate with each other. They snort when got angry, and growl during confrontations. They give alarm calls by sneezing and give squeaks when relaxed.

Reproduction and Parenting

The male rhino is a bull, and the female is a cow. Their offspring is called calf. Females get sexual maturity at the age of four to five years. The gestation period of females lasts 16 months, and they produce one calf per birth. The offspring weighs 100 pounds at the time of birth. The mother stays with her calf for up to 4 years unless she has another baby.

Mortality Rate and Lifespan

Rhinos have no natural predators other than humans, but tigers are the predators of their calves. The mortality rate is high in rhinos under one year of age due to attacks from the tigers. The Lifespan is forty to forty five-years in the wild and in captivity.

Economic Importance

These large mammals are of great economic importance as they get the attention of tourists in zoos and national parks and promotes tourism. It aso helps in their protection against poaching. They also conserve the structure of vegetation in African savannas.

Threats

It dates back to the 19th century when 500,000 rhinos roamed Asia and Africa. But, in the 1980s, the roaming declined to 70,000 when their killing reached to peak level for poaching purposes. Only 27,000 rhinoceros are left, most of whom are in captivity.

Poaching is the greatest threat to rhinoceros as they are hunted for their horns. Horns are traditional medicine in China and Vietnam, and dagger handlers in Oman and Yemen. The illegal trade of horns in the international market threatens their lives.

Conservation Status and Efforts

According to the red list of IUCN,

The Black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinoceros are classified as Critically Endangered (CR).
The Indian rhinos are classified as Vulnerable and white rhinoceros as Near Threatened.

WWF is doing a great job of conserving the population of rhinoceros species. It establishes the new populations of rhinos through translocations. The conservation story of the Indian Rhinoceros from 200 to 4000 in the twenty-first century is a great succes.

Rhino Fun Facts

Rhinoceros use their dung to show the status of their reproductive condition.
The black and white rhinoceros are, infact, grey.
Rhinos are good swimmers.
They can weigh over 3 tonnes.
Rhinoceros are run on their toes.

Cultural Value

The cultural value of the Rhinoceros shows their natural bonds with humans as they are the oldest member of the world. The artwork based on rhinos is discovered in the caves.

Greek geographer Agatharcides featured rhinoceros in his book “On the Erythraen Sea.”
In Hinduism, their god, Agni, utilizes the rhino as his vehicle.
In Western culture, it has been used to represent the gay community since 1974.
In Germany, an artist, Albert Durer, depicts rhinos in wooden artwork.

FAQs- Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is special about rhinos?
A: Rhinos are large, powerful animals known for their horns and thick skin. They are one of the largest land mammals and play an important role in their ecosystems.

Q: What can I write about rhinoceros?
A: You can write about their species, habitats, physical characteristics, conservation status, and the threats they face, like poaching.

Q: What do the rhinos eat?
A: Rhinos are herbivores and eat leaves, grasses, fruits, and roots.

Q: What is rhinos’ favorite food?
A: Rhinos prefer grasses and leafy vegetation, but this varies by species.

Q: Where do rhinos live?
A: Rhinos live in Africa and Asia, inhabiting grasslands, savannas, forests, and near water sources.

Q: What color are rhinos?
A: Rhinos are usually grey, although their name (black and white) doesn’t reflect actual color differences.

Q: Where does a rhino sleep?
A: Rhinos sleep on the ground, often in shaded areas or near mud to stay cool.

Q: What is the behavior of a rhino?
A: Rhinos are generally solitary, but some species, like the white rhino, form social groups. They enjoy wallowing in mud and are protective of their territories.

Q: What is a rhino’s enemy?
A: Humans are their main enemies due to poaching. Young rhinos may be preyed upon by large predators like tigers.

Q: Are rhinos intelligent?
A: Rhinos are intelligent animals with good memories and complex social behaviors.

Q: What is an interesting fact about rhinos?
A: Rhinos can communicate with each other using sounds like snorts, sneezes, and growls.

Q: Is rhino human-friendly?
A: Rhinos are generally not aggressive unless threatened but can be dangerous due to their size and strength.

Q: Are rhinos blind or deaf?
A: Rhinos have poor vision but excellent senses of hearing and smell.

Q: What makes a rhino special?
A: Rhinos are unique due to their large size, horns made of keratin, and their vital role in shaping ecosystems.

Q: What do rhinos eat?
A: Rhinos eat grasses, leaves, fruits, and roots, depending on their species and habitat.

Q: Can rhinos see color?
A: Rhinos have poor vision and likely cannot see color well.

Q: What do rhinos love?
A: Rhinos enjoy wallowing in mud to cool off and protect their skin.

Q: What is a female rhino called?
A: A female rhino is called a cow.

Q: How powerful is a rhino?
A: Rhinos are incredibly strong, with large, muscular bodies capable of knocking down trees.

Q: What is rhino’s real name?
A: The word “rhinoceros” comes from Greek, meaning “nose horn.”

Q: Can a rhino take a bullet?
A: A rhino’s thick skin offers some protection, but they can still be fatally injured by bullets.

Q: How fast can a rhino run?
A: Rhinos can run up to 50-55 km/h.

Learn More About Rhinoceros

Welcome to our page dedicated to the fascinating world of rhinoceros. Here, you’ll find in-depth articles that answer common questions about rhinos, including their diet, habitats, behaviors, and conservation efforts. Explore how these majestic creatures interact with their environment and what makes them so unique in the animal kingdom.

Scroll down to discover more about the incredible behaviors of rhinoceros and the challenges they face in the wild.