#WESTERN BLACK RHINO SKIN#

In the 2015 edition of the occasion, ‘Save the Rhino’ organization clarified that only 5055 black rhinoceros are left in the world. How Many Black Rhinos are Left in the World Habitat loss is also another key factor behind the fall in their population. They have been hunted and poached on for decades for their horns, and their population numbers have been reduced to mere thousands leading to more concerted conservational methods. The Black Rhinoceros is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN 3.1. On occasions, a crocodile may drag one into the water to kill it, or a pride of lions may join forces to bring down a sub-adult. Breeding pairs stay together for 2-3 days, during which period they mate several times per day with copulation lasting for about half an hour each time.īecause of its build and armor-like skin, rarely do natural predators like lions and crocodiles prey on the black rhinoceros. When a male does find the pile they scatter and spread it all over the place so that a rival male cannot find the same female. When in heat, the females leave dung piles as a means for a prospective male to follow and find her. Mating happens randomly at any time of the year, usually at a time that facilitates the birth occurring at around the end of rainy season. Their diet includes a number of leaves and plants, depending on their availability, to meet their nutritional requirements. During the dry and arid season, they prefer leafy plants, as it serves to quench their thirst to an extent. Dietīeing herbivores, they browse and eat leafy plants, shoots, branches, fruits and thorny woody bushes. Members of the species can identify each other as to their age and gender by their urine and stools. Characteristic breathing sounds are also used to warn predators and to put across their anxiety.

Surprisingly, they are not as sluggish at all as their size may suggest, moving at speeds of up to 55 km per hour.Īudible communicative methods generally include squeaking between adults.

Although not territorial, they often fight with each other these fights are gender specific, meaning males only fight males and females only with females.

They are one of the most aggressive rhino species, often threatening and charging at threats.

Female black rhinos tend to sleep less than the males by almost half the time.

Being solitary in nature, they do not develop close bonds other than between a mother and her calf.

Additionally, the black rhino also has relatively smaller skull.īlack Rhinoceros Habitat Behavioral Characteristics

The primary difference is that the black rhinoceros has pointier lips while the white rhino has wider lips to aid it in grazing.

So, the two are often hard to distinguish. White Rhino: Characteristic Featuresīoth species have similar gray coloration as the word ‘white’ has actually been misinterpreted from ‘wide’. Some individuals may have a third shorter horn. The longest recorded black rhino horn was 4.9 feet (1.5 m) long. Horns: They have two horns with the front one being longer than the other, growing up to a meter.

#WESTERN BLACK RHINO SKIN#

This kind of armor-like skin helps to protect its wearer from sharp grasses and thorns. Skin: The black rhino, as indeed does all other rhinoceros species, boasts a gray-colored and thick layered skin. Weight: The humongous animal weighs in at a colossal 1,760 to 3,080 lbs (800 to 1,400 kg).

Size: Their height at the shoulder is about 4.5 to 6 feet (1.4m to 1.8m), with the head-to-tail length being around 14 feet (4.2m).

Western black rhino