The Rhinoceros Essay

587 Words3 Pages
1. The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered. The white or square-lipped rhino is one of two rhino species in Africa. It in turn occurs as two subspecies, the southern and the northern. The southern dwindled almost to extinction in the early 20th century, but was protected on farms and reserves, enabling it to increase enough to be reintroduced. The northern white rhino has recovered in Democratic Republic of Congo from about 15 in 1984 to about 30 in the late 1990s. This population has been threatened by political conflict and instability. QUICK FACTS Name: Black Rhinoceros - Diceros bicornis Name: White Rhinoceros - Ceratotherium simum The White Rhino: The white rhino's name derives from the Dutch "weit," meaning wide, a reference to its wide, square muzzle adapted for grazing. The white rhino, which is actually grey, has a pronounced hump on the neck and a long face. The Black Rhino: The black or hooked-lipped rhino, along with all other rhino species, is an odd-toed ungulate (three toes on each foot). It has a thick, hairless, grey hide. Both the black and white rhino have two horns, the longer of which sits at the front of the nose. Size: The rhinoceros stands about 60 inches at the shoulder. Weight: Black Rhino: 1 to 1½ tons.. Habitat: Grasslands with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees. Diet: Vegetarian. Black Rhino - browser. White Rhino - grazer. Socialization: Rhinos live in home ranges that sometimes overlap with each other. Feeding grounds, water holes and wallows may be shared. The black rhino is usually solitary.

More about The Rhinoceros Essay

Open Document