by Kevin R Newell

Created on: April 08, 2009   Last Updated: April 09, 2009

The Black Rhinoceros

Classification Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class - Mammalia

Order - Perissodactyla

Family - Rhinocerotidae

Description

The Rhino is an easy animal to identify, but telling the difference between the Black and White Rhino is much more difficult. The way to tell the between the two is by their upper lips; the White Rhino has a wide lip and all the Black Rhino species have a pointed lip. There is no difference in their colour as you would expect. The Black Rhino has pointed ears, and of course, the Rhino horn on the end of its nose/face can usually have a second horn just behind it. These horns are made up of Keratin and are highly sought after by poachers. Its body is very big, muscular and bulky. They can weigh from 900kg up to a massive 1300 kg and stand roughly at 160cm tall.

You can tell the difference from males and females, as females are usually the smaller of the two. All Rhinos have terrible hearing and detect any threats by sight and sound. When a Rhino feels threatened, it will turn to face the threat. First they, will give a few stamps or fake charges to try and scare off the threat. If this does not work then it will give a full charge and attack what ever threatens it.

Habitat

The Black Rhino lives in Africa's bush lands and savannahs where they find the majority of their food. They can be found in these environments in Namibia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and further North East in Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Breeding

All Rhinos live a life on their own and only come together to mate. After the mating has taken place, the male will stay around for a few days before going off on its own, leaving the mother to raise the calf on her own. The mother will carry her young for around 15 months and once born they will stay together for up to 3 years. This is so the calf can grow strong and learn from its mother how to survive in its environment.

When the calf is born it can weigh up to a massive 50kg. It is heavily reliant on its mother and only starts to wean just before 2 years.

Maturity in Rhinos is a long process and usually for a male is After 7 years and a female before 7 years of age. With Rhinos taking a long time to raise young its no wonder there are a few precious wild Rhinos left. Rhinos in the wild can live up to 45 years, but most will be lucky to see 30 years if they are not poached or hunted.

Food Habits

The Black Rhino eats only plants, making it an herbivore. They wild forage on such vegetation as branches, leaves, shoots and any berries or fruits they come across. They can eat hundreds of types of plants and have a very varied diet for an herbivore. Like most animals in the savannahs and bush lands they tend only to forage for food in the mornings and evenings to escape the suns heat.

Population Status

The Black Rhinoceros is a critically endangered species; there are so few wild Black Rhinos in the wild and they are still at great risk from humans though poaching and hunting. There are desperate attempts to save the species through breeding programs in captivity and through trying to protect the last few remaining wild Black Rhinos. There is estimated just over 3,000 left in the world with the subspecies the West African Black Rhinoceros being declared extinct back on 6th July 2006.

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