Rhinoceros Facts

The rhino is a homely beast,
For human eyes he's not a feast.
Farewell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,
I'll stare at something less prepoceros. - Ogden Nash, American writer

Rhinoceroses, or rhinos, are one of the most sought-after animals in zoos, all over the world. They attract thousands of visitors yearly, receiving the greatest attention from children who are awed by their size and unique horn. In fact, their most impressive and distinct feature is the horn that sits atop its nose, much like a unicorn from the fables. The rhino gets its name from its horn; its name's origin being from, rhino, a Greek word that stands for 'nose', and ceros, which means 'horns'. In the wild, they are mostly found in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Facts about Rhinoceros

There are different species, each having specific characteristics. They are white rhino, black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino and Javan rhino. The greater one-horned rhino has a single horn and is found in northern India and southern Nepal. Sumatran rhinos have two horns, and are called hairy rhinos.

African Rhinoceros
Black rhinos and white rhinos are the two species. The black rhinos are more belligerent, than the white rhinos. Given below are some facts about these two species.

Black Rhinoceros
The black rhinos, or Diceros bicornis species, are named 'black', and have distinguishable features from the white rhinos. They have a narrow and prehensile lip form that helps them in feeding on shrubs and leaves. They are mostly seen in dry, arid areas with lots of trees, where they can also hide. They are further sub-grouped into South-central, South-western, East African and West African. The weight of the male and the female black rhino ranges from 800 to 1,350 kg and have a height of 4.5-5.5 ft. They do not have a very strong eyesight, but they have good olfactory perception and sense of hearing. They have two horns, with the outer one being larger and measuring 50 cm.

White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum species is found in the woodland habitats of Africa, such as Kenya, Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. They are brownish gray in color. Its name 'white' comes as a misinterpretation of weit, an Afrikaans word meaning 'wide'. The lip form of the animal, helps it in grazing effectively. They are further sub-categorized into Southern and Northern White rhinos, of which, the latter is an endangered sub-species. They are heavily built with weight ranging from 1,800-2,700 kg. Their height is 5-6 ft. They have two horns, with the outer horn measuring over 89 cm on an average, larger than the inner one. The offspring are protected by the mothers, up to three years.

Javan Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros sondaicus species is found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, mostly in Indonesia and Vietnam. They were first found in Java Islands of Indonesia and hence, the name. These are by far, the most endangered of all rhino species. They feed on leaves, fruits and shoots of the trees. An average adult can weigh around 900-2,300 kg and its horn measures 25 cm. Their height is 5-5.5 ft. They are calm by nature and prefer staying isolated. They have a single horn, which is made up of keratin fibers. There are, altogether, sixty species in South-east Asia.

Other Interesting Facts

• The white rhino is wrongly called 'white', as its color is actually gray.
• Their horn is made from a protein called keratin.
• Their horn is hugely sought-after, as it is used in traditional Chinese medicines.
• The mother rhino gives birth, only once in three years. The calf suckles from its mother for at least one year.
• They have a unique thick layer of skin, which has a thickness of 1.5-5 cm and is formed of layers of collagen.
• Other than the African rhino, the Sumatran rhino is another species of the Asian rhino, which is one of the most endangered animals. It is the hairiest and smallest of all the rhinos.
• Their average life span is thirty-five to forty years.
• An adult does not usually fall prey to other animals. Crocodiles are the most common predators of young calves.
• Human beings are, by far, the greatest predators of wild rhinos. Continued poaching habits have endangered quite a few of their species.
• Kaziranga National Park, a sanctuary in India, hosts about two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinos.

These were a few rhinoceros facts. Being solitary and protective by nature, they use their horns to defend their territories. It is believed that their horns have potential to cure food poisoning.