Black Rhinoceros

black rhinoThe Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is critically endangered. They are threatened by excessive poaching for their horns, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and for dagger handles in Yemen and Oman. Rhinoceroses are classified as part of the order of Perrissodactyla (in which also horses reside), suborder Ceratomorpha, which contains two families of slower-moving, thick-set animals with several functional toes: tapirs and the rhinoceroses. They can weigh up to 1400 kilograms. Black rhinoceroses' horn can grow up to 140 centimeters (!), and usually they have two horns, but occasionaly a third develops. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words rhino (nose) and keros (horn). Adult Black rhinoceroses do not have any natural enemies. The young are occasionaly taken by lions or hyenas. Their aggressive disposition discourages its predators. Because of its nearsightedness, the rhino charges first and investigates later.

Keywords: black , brown , white

Which zoos have them?
Birmingham Zoo (United States), Brookfield Zoo (United States) and Saint Louis Zoological Park (United States)

The Black rhinoceros, hook-lipped rhinoceros is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Namings for the black rhinoceros
A young / baby of a black rhinoceros is called a 'calf'. The females are called 'cow' and males 'bull'. A black rhinoceros group is called a 'crash or herd'.
Some facts about the
Black rhinoceros

Adult weight : 1100 kg (2420 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 49 years

Female maturity :1826 days

Male maturity : 2254 days

Gestation : 474 days

Weaning : 634 days

Litter size : 1

Interval between litters : 1059 days

Weight at birth : 36.5 kg (80.3 lbs)

Source: AnAge, licensed under CC

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