Black Rhinoceros

The species was first named Rhinoceros bicornis by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema naturae in 1837. The name means "double-horned rhinoceros". There is some confusion about what exactly Linnaeus conceived under this name as this species was probably based upon the skull of a single-horned Indian rhinoceros, with a second horn artificially added by the collector. Such a skull is known to have existed and Linnaeus even mentioned India as origin of this species.

The longest known black rhinoceros horn measured nearly 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. Sometimes a third, smaller horn may develop These horns are used for defense, intimidation, and digging up roots and breaking branches during feeding. The black rhino is smaller than the white rhino and close in size to the Javan rhino of Indonesia. It has a pointed and prehensile upper lip, which it uses to grasp leaves and twigs when feeding, whereas the white rhinoceros has square lips used for eating grass. The black rhinoceros can also be distinguished from the white rhinoceros by its size, smaller skull, and ears; and by the position of the head, which is held higher than the white rhinoceros, since the black rhinoceros is a browser and not a grazer.

Their thick-layered skin helps to protect black rhinos from thorns and sharp grasses. Their skin harbors external parasites, such as mites and ticks, which may be eaten by oxpeckers and egrets. Such behavior was originally thought to be an example of mutualism, but recent evidence suggests that oxpeckers may be parasites instead, feeding on rhino blood. It is commonly assumed that black rhinos have poor eyesight, relying more on hearing and smell. However, studies have shown that their eyesight is comparatively good, at about the level of a rabbit. Their ears have a relatively wide rotational range to detect sounds. An excellent sense of smell alerts rhinos to the presence of predators.

Both black and white rhinoceroses are actually gray. They are different not in color but in lip shape. The black rhino has a pointed upper lip, while its white relative has a squared lip. The difference in lip shape is related to the animals' diets.

Rhino horns grow as much as three inches a year and have been known to grow up to five feet long. Females and males use their horns to protect their young, while males use them to battle attackers.

It is a selective browser, and grass plays a minor role in its diet. Where succulent plants, such as Euphorbias, are abundant in dry habitats, they can survive without flowing water. Where water is available, drinking is regular and frequent; black rhinoceroses also dig for water in dry riverbeds. They are normally ill-tempered and unpredictable and may detect any unfamiliar sound or smell. Four subspecies are recognized, including one from Namibia that lives in near-desert conditions.

Black rhinos are generally thought to be solitary, with the only strong bond between a mother and her calf. In addition, bulls and cows have a consort relationship during mating, and subadults and young adults frequently form loose associations with older individuals of either sex. They are not very territorial and often intersect other rhino territories. Home ranges vary depending on the season and the availability of food and water. Generally, they have smaller home ranges and a higher density in habitats that have plenty of food and water available, and vice versa if resources are not readily available. Sex and age of an individual black rhino influence home range and size, with ranges of cows larger than those of bulls, especially when accompanied by a calf.

Black rhinos are very nervous in temperament and can be quite aggressive and would react by attacking the threat, even a poacher. I've had cases where I've gone to dart black rhino and I've been attacked. White rhino are more gregarious, more calm. They respond to threats by just running away.

As with many other components of the African large mammal fauna, black rhinos probably had a wider range in the northern part of the continent in prehistoric times than today. However this seems to have not been as extensive as that of the white rhino. Unquestionable fossil remains have not yet been found in this area and the abundant petroglyphs found across the Sahara desert are often too schematic to unambiguously decide whether they depict black or white rhinos.

Petroglyphs from the Eastern Desert of southeastern Egypt relatively convincingly show the occurrence of black rhinos in these areas in prehistoric times. Black Rhino occur in a wide variety of habitats from desert areas in Namibia to wetter wooded areas. The highest densities of rhinos are found in savannas on nutrient-rich soils and in succulent Valley Bushveld areas. Black Rhino are browsers and favor small acacia's and other palatable woody species (Grewia's, Euphorbiaceae 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. Failure to appreciate this, has in the past led to carrying capacities being over-estimated in some areas. Apart from plant species composition and size structure, Black rhinos carrying capacity is related to rainfall, soil nutrient status, fire histories, levels of grass interference, extent of frost and densities of other large browsers.

• Movement Pattern: Nomadic

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Increasing

• Population: 3,142

• Medicine - human & veterinary

Local: ✘ National: ✔ International: ✔

• Sport hunting/specimen collecting

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• Food - human

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• Handicrafts, jewellery, etc.

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• Establishing ex-situ production 

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• Action Recovery Plan: Yes

• Systematic Monitoring Scheme: Yes

• Subject to recent education and awareness programs: Yes

• Included in international legislation: Yes

• Subject to any international management or trade controls: Yes

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Taiga; montane grasslands and shrublands; temperate coniferous forests; temperate broadleaf and mixed forests; temperate deciduous forests, temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands; subtropical coniferous forests; subtropical moist broadleaf forests; subtropical dry broadleaf forests; subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands; salt plains; limestone forest; tropical coniferous forests; tropical moist broadleaf forests; tropical dry broadleaf forests; tropical grasslands; tropical savannas and shrublands; Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub; mushroom forests; deserts and xeric shrublands; badlands; flooded grasslands and savannas; swamp; riparian; wetland; mangrove forest; bamboo forest; air-breathing coral reefs

• Earth:

  • Extant (resident): Angola; Kenya; Mozambique; Namibia; South Africa; Tanzania; Zimbabwe

  • Extinct: Benin; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Niger; Nigeria; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Togo; Uganda

  • Extant & Reintroduced (resident): Botswana; Eswatini; Malawi; Rwanda; Zambia

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This species was found in every episode of Earth Responsibly Universe with the Frozen series, The Owl House, Assassin's Creed, Monster Hunter, The Avengers, Agents of Shield, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Venom, Street Fighter, Z Nation, The Walking Dead, every movie in 20th Century Studios, Mobile Legends, and Star Wars as part of Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure and Tangled Movie.

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• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhinoceros

• https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/rhinoceros/q_a_joseph_okori/

• https://www.britannica.com/animal/black-rhinoceros

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/black-rhinoceros

• https://www.trvst.world/biodiversity/rhinoceros-quotes/

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6557/152728945

• https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/rhinoceros/q_a_joseph_okori#:~:text=Black%20rhinos%20are%20very%20nervous,threats%20by%20just%20running%20away.

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Black-Rhinoceros-924010274