The rhinoceros, or rhino, is a bulky, hoofed animal. There are five species of this mammal. At the end of the 20th century, almost all species of rhinos were threatened, and some were facing extinction. Where rhinos liveThree of the five species of the rhino are found in tropical Asia and two are found in eastern and southern Africa. The Sumatran, Javan, and Greater Indian Rhinoceros are found in Asia. The black rhinoceros and the white, or square-lipped, rhinoceros are found in Africa. The white rhino, along with the hippopotamus, ranks among the largest living land mammals next to the elephant. Most rhinos are solitary animals. They generally inhabit savannas (grasslands), regions with shrubs, or marshes, though the Sumatran rhino prefers the deep forest. Physical characteristicsThe rhino is a large animal that may weigh 3 to 5 tons. It is about 8 to 13 feet (2.5 meters to 4 meters) long and 5 feet (1.5 meters) high at the shoulder. Some species have a single horn on the upper surface of its snout. Both the African and the Sumatran rhinos have two horns. The rhino does not have hair on its body except for stiff bristles at the tip of the tail and short fringes around the ears. The animal has a thick skin that forms platelike folds, especially at the shoulders and thighs. All the species are gray or brown in color including the white rhinoceros. The white rhino is only paler in color than the others. The rhino's feet have three short toes tipped with broad, blunt nails. The rhino has poor eyesight but a very good sense of hearing and smell. It avoids human beings. The male rhino is ill-tempered during the breeding season, and a female with a calf may attack at the slightest disturbance. Although heavy, the rhinoceros can move quickly. A black rhino may attain a speed of about 30 miles (45 kilometers) an hour, even in thick brush. BehaviorThe rhino is a herbivorous animal, which means it eats a variety of vegetation. It feeds primarily on grass. The upper lip of some rhinos is adapted to wrap around and grasp grass, reeds, and twigs. Life cycleA female rhino gives birth once every two years to a single offspring. The mother carries the unborn rhino for a period ranging from 14 to 19 months. The calf remains with the mother till the birth of the next one. Rhinos can live about 50 years. Ecological issuesAll rhinos except the black rhinoceros are considered endangered species. Although this is partly due to the destruction of their habitat, the major reason is illegal hunting of the animal. There is a huge market for the rhinoceros because of the medicinal values of the different parts of its body. Its horn is used as a fever-reducing drug and as a medicine for detecting poison. |