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Diceros bicornis

(African Black Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros)

Overview

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Critically Endangered
Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

African Black Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros, Hook-Lipped Rhinoceros

Common Names in French:

Rhinocéros Noir

Common Names in Russian:

Носорог черный

Description

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Physical Description

Species Diceros bicornis

A black rhino is actually gray, not black. It was named after the Black Umfolozi River , the area in which it was discovered, by William Burchell. Smaller than a white rhino, it stands from four feet nine inches to five and a half feet at the shoulder ; it weighs as much as 1.75 tons . Its upper lip is pointed and has a prehensile tip . Today is it also known as the Hook-lip rhino.

Both males and females have a set of horns, the front one being longer and averaging about 20 inches, but growing as long as 53 inches. The large bump on its head in front of the skull helps anchor the horn to the head.

A black rhino has poor eyesight, but it is keen of hearing and smell (reportedly better than a bloodhound).

Size/Age/Growth

Adults weight 2,500 lbs .

Habitat

It prefers brush and scattered open woodlands, and frequents mud wallows. The range of the black rhinoceros is limited to areas of eastern and southern Africa . Most of them are found in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Namibia.

Biome: Terrestrial

Ecology: Black rhino are browsers , and occur in a wide variety of habitats from desert areas in Namibia to wetter forested areas in the highlands of Kenya, to savannas and succulent valley bushveld areas where the highest densities of black rhino occur. The black rhino is a browser and it favours small Acacia’s and other palatable woody species (Grewia’s, Euphorbiacea species etc.) as well as palatable herbs and succulents. However, because of high levels of secondary plant chemicals, much woody plant browse (especially many evergreen species) in some areas is unpalatable for black rhinos. Failure to appreciate this, has in the past led to black rhino carrying capacities being over-estimated in some areas. Apart from plant species composition and size structure, black rhino carrying capacity is related to rainfall, soil nutrient status, fire histories, levels of grass interference, extent of frost and densities of other large browsers. To maintain rapid population growth rates and prevent potential habitat damage if the population overshoots carrying capacity, populations of black rhinos should be managed at densities below long term ecological carrying capacity (zero growth density ). (Ref. 95527)


List of Habitats:2.1Savanna - Dry 3.5Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry 8.1Desert - Hot

Biology

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Diet

Uses its hooked prehensile upper lip for stripping leaves and twigs from the bushes and shrubs on which it browses . A browser , it prefers not to eat grass . It usually feeds at night and in early morning, and needs to drink at least once a day.

Reproduction

Has no particular breeding season . A single young is born after a gestation period of about 15 months. The calf stays with its mother for as long as two years, often remaining with her after the birth of the subsequent calf.

Sexual maturity is reached at about five years. Black rhinos live 40-50 years.

Behavior

Tends to be a solitary animal, although groups of two or three are not rare. The male especially, is territorial , and defends his turf vigorously against rivals . Its reputation for being bad-tempered is probably exaggerated, but it is an unsociable and aggressive animal. Probably due to its poor eyesight, it tends to charge aimlessly and unpredictably, and may hit trees or automobiles. Despite a charging speed of 35 mph, a black rhino can stop and change directions very quickly. Tick birds feed on the rhino's external parasites. This association is an example of mutualism because both species benefit. The tick birds get food in the form of insects, while the rhinos are warned of potentially dangerous intruders by the birds' alarm calls .

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 22-Apr-2004

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Diceros

There are approximately 16 species in this genus:

D. bicornis (African Black Rhinoceros) · D. bicornis bicornis (South-Western Black Rhinoceros) · D. bicornis ladoensis · D. bicornis longipes (Western Black Rhinoceros) · D. bicornis michaeli (Eastern Black Rhinoceros) · D. bicornis minor (South-Central Black Rhinoceros) · D. burmeisteri · D. dives · D. douariensis · D. esmeraldus · D. libidus · D. malayanus · D. modestus · D. neumayri · D. pachygnathus · D. ronyeri

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 26, 2007:

Identifiers

Last Revised: 2008-08-05