Black Rhinoceros

IUCN

Scientific Name：Diceros bicornis

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Black Rhinoceros
Scientific Name：Diceros bicornis
Outline：Ungulata
Family：Rhinocerotidae Diceros Gray

Vital signs

length：Head and body length 3.0–3.75 m; shoulder height 1.4–1.8 m
Weight：800–1,400 kg (males up to 1,800 kg)
lifetime：About 30–40 years in the wild

Feature

The front end of the upper lip is pointed and can roll up shrub leaves; there are two horns, and the front horn is usually longer; the sense of smell and hearing are keen.

Distribution and Habitat

Arid shrublands, savannas, and acacia scrublands; often found near water sources.

Appearance

It has a stout body, thick and wrinkled skin, a pointed snout, and a front horn usually 40–60 cm long. Compared with the white rhino, its muzzle is more pointed and its back line is more curved.

Details

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), scientifically known as the black rhinoceros, is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN. It is primarily found in the dry scrublands and savannas of East and Southern Africa, where it feeds on shrub branches and leaves. It faces threats from poaching and habitat fragmentation. Despite its name, its body coloration is more like grayish-white. The name is often used to distinguish it from the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). In reality, the difference between the two rhinoceroses lies not in coloration but primarily in size, with the black rhinoceros being significantly smaller.

Physical Characteristics

The black rhinoceros has a pointed snout and smaller ears, while the white rhinoceros has a wider lip and larger ears. The black rhinoceros's thick skin protects it from being pierced or scratched by sharp grass. They have very poor eyesight and rely primarily on hearing and smell to detect enemies.

Habits

Black rhinos are herbivores with a wide diet, including leaves, twigs, young shoots, shrubs, and fruit. Research suggests they can consume up to 220 different plant species. During the dry season, they can survive without water for up to five days. They primarily inhabit the African savannah and tropical jungles.

Reproduction

Adult black rhinos are solitary, living together only during mating. Mating pairs may stay together for two to three days or even several weeks.

The gestation period is approximately 15-16 months. Each litter has one calf, and the birth weight is approximately 35-50 kg. The weaning period is two years, and the animal leaves its mother after two to three years. Female black rhinos reach sexual maturity at five years, while males reach maturity at seven years. The average lifespan of a black rhino in the wild is 35-50 years.

Population

In the 20th century, the black rhino was the most numerous of all rhinoceros species. However, due to severe poaching in Zimbabwe in the latter half of the 20th century, the black rhino population declined sharply, from 70,000 to 10,000-15,000 in 1981. Around 1990, the population fell below 2,500. According to 2003 data, the black rhino population has rebounded to approximately 3,610 individuals.

The black rhino (Diceros bicornis) is currently found in 12 African countries, with an estimated population of 6,421 individuals. The black rhino population consists of three subspecies: the southwestern (Db bicornis) with an estimated 2,583 individuals, the southern (Db minor) with an estimated 2,450 individuals, and the eastern (Db michaeli) with an estimated 1,388 individuals. A fourth subspecies, the western (Db longipes) black rhino, was declared extinct in 2011; its last known presence was in Cameroon in 2006.