Black Rhinoceros

scientific name

Diceros bicornis

size/weight/height

Length: 10'
Weight: maximum 3000 lbs.

adaptations/coloration

Color: skin dull-dark gray
Appearance: color of soil due to fondness for mud & dust baths
Eyesight: poor
Foot: 3 toes
Forage: browser • uses prehensile upper lip • must drink daily • hindgut fermentation allows high fiber diet
Hearing: keen
Horn: most conspicuous • 2 horns • longest horn in front • dense aggregation of keratin fibers (human fingernail)
Legs: short • stout • capable of charge 30 mph maximum
Smell: keen • primary method of detecting danger
Teeth: none in front

behavior

solitary
Bath: love mud & dust baths • provides cooling & protection from biting insects
Movement: morning & evening • midday rest & sleep
Personality: reputation of unprovoked aggression & sudden intruder charging

reproduction/lifespan

Sexual Maturity: male 7 - 8 yrs. (dominant status 10 yrs.) • female 5-7 yrs.
Courtship: male trumpets when female is in heat
Birth Interval: 2-4 yrs.
Gestation: 15 mos.
Young: 1 • ~88 lbs.
Parenting: strong bond between mother & most recent young • young stay with mother for 2 yrs. in wild

diet

Herbivore
Wild: plant foliage
Zoo: alfalfa, apples, carrots, hoof-stock pellets, lettuce, vitamin supplements & leaves & twigs from zoo keepers (run excitedly around enclosure when they see zoo keeper with choice "tidbits")

habitat/range

savanna • forest • Cape to Somalia

status

US Endangered • CITES App I • SSP participant • considered the world’s most endangered mammal; In 1970 - 65,000 • currently ~3500
Greatest Threat: poaching for horn • India, China & Far East horn is used in folk medicine as cure for headaches, fever & as an aphrodisiac • can bring $24,000/ea. in Far East • in North Yemen horn used as dagger handles - sign of status among men
• White Rhino more abundant than Black Rhino

other

5 species worldwide:

Africa:
Black - 2 horns • longest horn in front • prehensile lip for browsing
White - 2 horns • longest horn in front • broad lips for grazing

Asia:
Sumatran - 2 horns • longest horn in back • hairy
Indian - 1 horn • heavy folds of skin give armored appearance
Javan - 1 horn • heavy folds of skin • much smaller than Indian rhino

oregon zoo exhibit

Africa Savanna

learn more about: