What Are Rhinoceros?

Rhinoceros, most commonly known as rhinos, are found in Africa and Asia. At present, there have been reported only five living species of rhinos, which are White Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros and Sumatran Rhinoceros. They are herbivorous animals and very famous for their huge physical stature. They possess a strong & sturdy body, very hard skin, smaller brain as compared to that of other mammals, short legs and a big horn pointing upward from their face. A rhino's horn is truly valuable for its high demand in human society. These horns are further used for ornamental and medicinal purposes. If you want to access some precious rhino information, just keep on reading the article to its end.

Rhinos that live in Africa and Sumatra have two horns as you can see in the rhino pictures. On the other hand, Indian and Javan rhinos possess only one horn.

Facts About Rhinoceros

• Some of the important rhino facts suggest that the modern species were first found in Asia and then migrated to Europe, almost 10,000 years ago. The wooly rhinos species originated in China, almost 1 million years ago. These rhinos also migrated to and inhabited European continent 600,000 years ago.
• Scientifically, the rhinos are classified under the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Super Family Rhinocerotoidea and Family Rhinocerotidae.
• The two species of rhinos, inhabiting Africa, do not have front teeth.
• In average body size, rhinoceros are 6 feet in height and 11-13 feet in length. Their horns are made up of a hair like substance and are also used for making artificial nails and hair extensions. The white rhinoceros is comparatively bigger than the black rhino.
• One more interesting fact about rhinos is that they welter themselves in mud and then let the mud dry on their body, thus making a natural sunblock to protect their skin against harmful ultraviolet rays of sun. The thick mud layer also serves as a protective shield against different kinds of insects that suck their blood.
• In comparison with other mammals, the skin of rhinos is very thick that can grow as thick as 5 cm!
• Any of the five surviving species of rhinos can grow as heavy as one ton or even more!
• Black Rhinos can survive without water for up to five days, after that, they surely need to replenish their body with water.
• Maximum age of white rhinoceros is 45 years and the young rhinos stay with their mothers till they reach the age of 3. The female rhinos prove to be good nurture for their young ones.
• The rhinos are capable of developing their horns again if they get damaged or destroyed somehow.
• The species of rhinos that inhabits Indonesia (Javan Rhinos) has been listed as endangered among the largest mammals on the planet earth and, according to a survey, their number has reduced to just 60.
• Humans are regarded one of the natural predators of rhinos along with hyena, wild dog, bid cat and crocodile that usually prey on young rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros Habitat

As far as rhino habitat is concerned, they prefer to live in wild environments. One of the species of rhinos, i.e. Javan rhinoceros is reported to live only at the national park in Java. Rhinos mostly reside in forests, grassy fields, areas close to rivers and wide lower lands with plenty of water & mud around.

Rhinoceros Diet

Being herbivorous, the rhinos, especially the black ones, are very fond of eating leaves, fruits and thorny bushes while the white rhinos love to have grass as their meal.

Rhinoceros Conduct

In contrast to white rhinoceros, the black ones are really violent and easily start fighting with one another. Also, the black rhinos have higher death rate as compared to other mammals due to their aggressive nature. Almost 50 percent male rhinos and 30 percent female rhinos die because of their mutual fights. The black rhinos are so fast that they can run on their toes with a maximum speed of 35 mph.

Generally rhinoceros love to lurch themselves in mud and this is the most common behavior that can be seen in almost all rhinos species in Asian and African continents.