The rhinoceros is one of the iconic animals of Africa, a kind of calling card of the “dark continent”; it is not for nothing that it is one of the “big African five” along with the buffalo, lion and leopard, the same five animals that in the old days were the most honorable trophies of hunting safari. The rhinoceros also has rather poor eyesight, but as they say, given his size and power, this is no longer his problem.

Rhinoceros: description, structure, characteristics. What does a rhinoceros look like?

The Latin name of the rhinoceros - Rhinocerotidae, is essentially identical to ours, since “Rhino” means “nose”, and “ceros” is a horn, resulting in “rhinoceros”, this name very aptly characterizes this animal, because the large horn on the nose, growing from The nasal bone is an integral attribute of all decent rhinoceroses (however, not decent ones either).

And also a rhinoceros, the largest after the elephant land mammal– the length of a rhinoceros is from 2 to 5 meters, with a height of 1-3 meters and a weight of 1 to 3.6 tons.

The colors of rhinoceroses depend on their species; in fact, at first glance, it seems that the names of rhinoceros species actually come from their colors: white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros. But here not everything is so obvious and unambiguous, the fact is that the real skin color of both white and black rhinoceros is the same - gray-brown, but due to the fact that these rhinoceroses like to wallow in the ground of different colors, which colors them different colors, and their names went.

The head of a rhinoceros is long and narrow, with a steeply sloping forehead. Between the nasal bones and the forehead there is a concavity, somewhat similar to a saddle. The small eyes of a rhinoceros with brown or black pupils and their size look very contrasting against the background of their large head. As we already mentioned at the beginning, rhinoceroses’ eyesight is not important; they are only able to see moving objects from a distance of no more than 30 meters. In addition, the fact that their eyes are located on the sides does not give them the opportunity to properly examine this or that object; they see it first with one eye, then with the other.

But rhinoceroses’ sense of smell, on the contrary, is well developed, and it is on this that they rely most. Interestingly, the volume of the nasal cavity in rhinoceroses is larger than the volume of their brain. The hearing of these giants is also well developed; the ears of rhinoceroses are like tubes that constantly rotate, picking up even faint sounds.

The lips of rhinoceroses are straight and awkward, with the exception of the Indian and black rhinoceroses, which have a movable lower lip. Also, all rhinoceroses have 7 molars in their dental system, which wear out greatly with age; in addition to teeth, Asian rhinoceroses have incisors, which are absent in African rhinoceroses.

All rhinoceroses have thick skin, which is almost completely devoid of hair. The exception here is the modern Sumatran rhinoceros, whose skin is still covered with brown hair, and the woolly rhinoceros that once lived in our latitudes, which, together with the same woolly mammoth, unfortunately, has not survived to our times.

The legs of a rhinoceros are heavy and massive, each foot has three hooves, as a result of which it is very easy to recognize by the rhinoceros's tracks where these giants walked.

Rhino horn

Rhinoceros horn - his business card and it should be mentioned separately. So, depending on the species, a rhinoceros can have either one or two horns on its nose, with the second horn located closer to the head being smaller. Rhinoceros horns are made of the protein kerotin, by the way, human hair and nails, porcupine quills, bird feathers and armadillo shells are made of the same protein. Horns develop from the epidermis of rhinoceros skin.

When wounded, young rhinos recover their horns, but older rhinos no longer have horns. In general, all the functions of the rhinoceros horn have not yet been fully studied by zoologists, but for example, scientists have noticed such a curious fact - if the horn of a female rhinoceros is removed, she will cease to be interested in her offspring.

The owner of the longest horn is the white rhinoceros; it reaches 158 cm in length.

Where does the rhinoceros live?

Nowadays, from the once numerous family of rhinoceroses, only 5 species have survived, 3 of them live in South-East Asia, these are the Indian rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Javan rhinoceros and 2 species live in Africa, these are the black and white rhinoceroses. Below we will describe each type in more detail.

How long does a rhinoceros live?

The life expectancy of rhinoceroses is very long, for example, African rhinoceroses in the wild live on average 30-40 years, and in zoos they live up to 50 years. But the longest-living rhinos are the Indian and Javan rhinos, which can live up to 70 years, almost the same as a human lifespan.

Rhino lifestyle

All rhinoceroses live alone, without creating herds. The exception is white rhinoceroses, which form small herds consisting of a female and cubs. Male and female rhinoceroses gather together only during mating. Despite such a peculiar solitary lifestyle, rhinoceroses also have friends among other representatives of the animal world, so the dragnets, small birds, constantly accompany rhinoceroses, pecking insects and insects from their skin, and at the same time bringing them closer to them with their screams. possible danger. It is not for nothing that in Swahili the name of these birds “wa kifaru” sounds like the protector of rhinoceroses.

Each rhinoceros has its own territory - a piece of pasture and a pond, which is its personal “land”; it jealously guards its territory. Rhinoceroses mark the boundaries of their “domains” with heaps of dung, which also serve them as a kind of “aromatic” landmark, allowing them to navigate in space and remain within the boundaries of their “land.”

Rhinoceroses are especially active, early in the morning and in the evening twilight, at this time they actively feed to get enough, which, given their big sizes not always an easy task. But day and night, rhinoceroses, as a rule, sleep on their stomachs or lying on their sides, or take their much-loved “mud baths.” Rhinoceroses sleep very soundly and they say that at this time you can easily sneak up on them and even grab them by the tail (but we still highly recommend that you do not do this))).

Rhinoceroses are cautious animals, therefore, including from us, people, they try to stay away, but when they sense danger, they always attack first, and they attack very fiercely. That is why, when meeting a rhinoceros, you need to behave extremely carefully and delicately; an angry rhinoceros can run at a speed of 40-45 km per hour, and nothing can stop such a running carcass; for example, it can quite easily ram and even turn over a light one.

What does a rhinoceros eat?

Rhinoceroses are herbivores, however, they are very voracious, so on average a rhinoceros eats up to 72 kg of plant food per day. The main food of rhinoceroses is grass and fallen leaves from trees. Black and Indian rhinoceroses are not averse to eating shoots of trees and bushes. Sugar cane is the Indian rhinoceros's favorite food, while the Sumatran rhinoceros is very fond of various fruits, especially figs and mangoes.

Enemies of the Rhino

The main enemy of rhinoceroses is, of course, man, who in the old days mercilessly exterminated these animals, including for the sake of their famous horns, which are believed to have different healing properties. Before they were exterminated to the point that now all 5 species of rhinoceroses are listed in, since due to their low numbers they are on the verge of extinction.

In natural conditions, other animals, given the size and cautiously suspicious disposition of rhinoceroses, try to avoid them. But baby rhinos may well be hunted by different predators: lions, crocodiles. But they cannot cope with an adult large rhinoceros, which has thick skin and a sharp large horn.

Well, the time has come to describe in more detail the 5 species of these horned giants that exist in nature.

White rhinoceros

This is the largest rhinoceros in the world, and, oddly enough, the least aggressive among rhinoceroses. Its body length is 5 m, height 2-3 m with a weight of 2-3 tons, although there are also heavy white rhinoceroses weighing 4-5 tons. This rhinoceros also has two horns, the main horn is the largest in the rhinoceros family, and in addition to it, there is another smaller horn closer to the head. The white rhinoceros lives in the Eastern and South Africa, in countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Botswana.

This species of rhinoceros is extremely dangerous due to its aggressive nature. The approach of a person, even if it is an innocent tourist with a camera, can react quite nervously, so you should keep your distance from him. Just like the white rhinoceros, it has two horns, one large and the other small, but somewhat smaller in size. The body length of the black rhinoceros is up to 3 m. Another characteristic feature of the black rhinoceros is the presence of a movable black lip. The black rhinoceros lives in a number of countries in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.

As you probably guessed, the homeland of the Indian rhinoceros is India, but in addition to it, Indian rhinoceroses also live in Nepal. The body length of the Indian rhinoceros is on average 2 m and with a body weight of 2.5 tons. The Indian rhinoceros has only one horn, and unlike African rhinoceroses, it is not sharp, but rather blunt and convex.

The only one modern species rhinoceroses, whose skin is covered with small hair, which is why it is sometimes also called the “hairy rhinoceros”. It is also the most ancient among all rhinoceroses. The body length of the Sumatran rhinoceros is 2.3 m and weighs 2.25 tons. Among rhinoceroses, the Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest, but despite this, it remains one of the most large representatives animal world of our planet. The Sumatran rhinoceros lives on the island of Sumatra (in Indonesia), also in Malaysia.

This rhinoceros is in particularly poor condition, according to zoologists at this moment Only about 50 individuals of the Javan rhinoceros survive. It lives only on the island of Java in a reserve specially created for it, in which every effort is made for its subsequent conservation. The Javan rhinoceros is similar in size and build to the Indian rhinoceros, but its characteristic distinctive feature is complete absence horns in females. Only male Javan rhinoceros have horns. The folds of his thick skin are somewhat reminiscent of knight's armor.

Rhino breeding

Rhinoceroses reach sexual maturity in the 7th year of life. But a male rhinoceros can begin the process of copulation with a female and the process of reproduction only after he has acquired his own territory. Usually this process takes another 2-3 years of life. The mating season for rhinoceroses usually occurs every month and a half; during this period, the male begins an intensive search for a female, which is interesting, when the male is chasing a female rhinoceros, they can even fight. But then the female gives in to the pressure of the male, and mating occurs.

The pregnancy of a female rhinoceros lasts one and a half years, and only one baby is born to her. A newborn rhinoceros weighs 25 kg, but begins to gain weight very quickly. Interestingly, white rhinoceros babies are born with hair. After just a few days, little rhinoceroses are able to follow their mother, and after three months they eat plants. However, during this period, the basis of their diet is mother's milk. For a whole year, a female rhinoceros feeds her children. breast milk. It should also be noted that small rhinos do not have horns, which begin to grow in their 2-3rd year of life.

• Residents of Europe first saw a rhinoceros only in 1513; it was handed over to Portuguese sailors by the Indian Rajah of Cambay. At first, the strange beast was exhibited for the amusement of the crowd, then the Portuguese decided to send it as a gift to the Pope, but on the way on the ship the rhinoceros went berserk, broke through the side of the ship and drowned.
• World Defense Fund wildlife WWF has established a special “Rhino Day” which is celebrated on September 22.
• The large woolly rhinoceros Elasmotherium once lived in forests, including our country Ukraine, as well as many other places in Eurasia. Unfortunately, it became extinct 8 thousand years ago.
• The word “rhinoceros” itself appears in the names of many other animals, for example, there is a rhinoceros beetle, a rhinoceros, a hornbill, a rhinoceros, and a rhinoceros fish. They all have horns, which makes them look like our today's hero - the rhinoceros.

Rhinoceros, video

And finally, an interesting video about crazy rhino attacks caught on camera.

In today's material we will study a representative of the rhinoceros family. It belongs to the order Perissodactyls and is distinguished by its external characteristics and behavior. There are quite a few varieties of rhinoceroses, but we will consider the black representative. If you translate the name from Latin, it will sound like “nose, horn”. Individuals are characterized by a special structure, due to which a certain extension, or even several, can be seen from the nasal bone. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, let’s study the features in order.

Description and habitat

1. By rhinoceros we mean a large land mammal, which in terms of its overall characteristics is second only to the elephant. Along the length of the body, these individuals grow up to 2.5-5 m, with a height at the withers of about 1.5-3 m and a weight of about 1.3-3.5 tons. The name of the species reflects the color of the skin; in our case, it is pigmented black. However, there are brown-gray specimens that may appear black in certain lighting.
2. The skin of rhinoceroses quickly absorbs organic compounds from the soil. If the animal is gray-brown, then after wallowing in the ground it turns black. The head of the representatives of the family is narrowed, the frontal part is lowered. Between the nose and forehead there is a depression that somewhat resembles a saddle. Compared to the head, this type of mammal has very small eyes. They are pigmented brown or black, the pupils are oval in shape. The upper eyelids are covered with thick dark eyelashes.
3. Representatives of the family have a well-developed sense of smell. They rely more on their nose than other organs. The volume of the nasal cavity exceeds the size of the brain. These animals are also famous for their well-developed hearing. The structure of the ears resembles a tube that draws in even the quietest sounds. However, rhinoceroses have terrible eyesight and do not rely on it. They can detect sudden movements and avoid stationary objects. Moreover, vision only works at 30 m. Since the eyes are located on the side sections of the head, these individuals first use one eye, then the other.
4. The upper lip is distinguished by its mobility, hanging over the lower one. Jaws with an incomplete set of teeth, but very strong. There are no fangs, but each jaw is equipped with seven molars. They flow with the flow life cycle. The lower section contains sharp incisors. A distinctive characteristic of these mammals is the horn, which grows from the frontal or nasal bone. Usually there are a couple of growths pigmented black or gray.
5. If a young animal gets into a fight and damages its horn, it will recover as it ages. However, older individuals cannot count on such an outcome; their horn cannot be restored. Black members of the family have 2-5 horns. The limbs of rhinoceroses are powerful, with three fingers. Each of them has a small hoof. It is very easy to recognize the mammal by its prints, as they are similar to clover leaves. The skin is hairless, but hairs may be present at the ends of the ears. The tail grows up to 70 cm in length, has a thin structure and ends with a brush of hair.
6. Often the presented individuals are located in Tanzania, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Republic of South Africa. They are also found in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Rhinoceroses like drought; they settle in sparse forested areas, groves, steppe zones, bush areas, savannas, deserts. They are found at an altitude of 2.5 km. above sea level. This species is on the verge of extinction; according to data, there are about 4860 individuals.

Nutrition

1. Animals prefer to stick to vegetarianism. They eat about 70 kg per day. food plant origin. The diet is based on grass. Animals tear it off with powerful and mobile lips, and also pick up fallen leaves. Some individuals are partial to shoots of bushes and trees. They can tear out an acacia tree with roots, absorbing it in huge volumes.
2. The wedge-shaped lip is otherwise called the proboscis. She breaks off the branches. These mammals like elephant grass and also eat aquatic vegetation and reed shoots. Sugar cane is considered a favorite delicacy; bamboo, figs, and mangoes are consumed.
3. As for food in captivity, when these representatives of the family are kept in a zoo, they are provided with hay and are also treated to fresh grass. Must be added vitamin complexes. Leaves and shoots are added to the food.
4. Giants can feed regardless of the time of day. Individuals of the black species primarily feed in the morning and evening. As for the rest of the rhinoceroses, they can remain active both at night and during the day.
5. A huge animal can consume from 50 to 170 liters per day. water. Such indicators are highly dependent on the weather. During drought, individuals are able to go without water for 4-5 days.

Lifestyle

1. Mammals often prefer a solitary lifestyle. Such animals do not form herds. Separately, it is worth mentioning white rhinoceroses, only they sometimes form small groups. As for females, they almost always exist together with their offspring for some time.
2. Only during the mating season can individuals of different sexes be together. Despite the fact that they prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, these individuals even have real friends in nature. These birds are buffalo starlings. They constantly accompany rhinoceroses and other ungulates.
3. Rhinos appreciate such birds small size because they feed on ticks and other insects that climb onto their backs. Such birds warn large animals of approaching danger with a loud cry. In ancient times, such birds were even called protectors of rhinoceroses.
4. Among other things, when the giants begin to take baths, turtles also eat ticks from their backs. In this way they are doing the animals a huge favor. In the wild, rhinoceroses themselves strictly monitor and protect their own territory. One individual has its own area with a pond and pasture.
5. Over the long years of life, the mammals in question trample their paths towards bodies of water. In such places, animals take mud baths. African rhinoceroses even have separate latrines. For a long time, an impressive amount of manure accumulates on individuals. With this scent they mark the boundaries of their own territory.
6. The individuals in question try to mark their territory not only with dung, but also with odorous marks. This is what old males do. Marking bushes and grass with urine. Black rhinoceroses are active in the early morning. In addition, they often lead the same lifestyle at night. At this time, they try to get as much food as possible.
7. IN daytime Rhinoceroses prefer to sleep in the shade. They can sleep on their side or stomach. Sometimes they spend this time in mud baths. It is worth noting that giants sleep very soundly; they completely forget about any danger. At this time, you can even sneak up on them. As for other species, they are active at night and during the day.
8. It is noteworthy that the giants under discussion are careful in everything. They do not strive to make contact with people, and once again beware of them. But if the rhinoceros senses danger, it will definitely attack first as a defense. Surprisingly, such animals can accelerate to 45 km/h. However, they will not be able to escape for long.
9. The black type of rhinoceroses has a greater temper. They quickly attack if necessary and are simply impossible to stop. The same cannot be said about white rhinos. They are more peaceful and calm. If a person feeds a baby with his hands, it will become completely tame.

Rhinos are enough interesting view animals. In the wild, it is better not to anger such giants. Otherwise, there is simply no escape from an angry tank. Otherwise, they are peaceful and quite calm. Individuals kept in captivity remain quite friendly.

Video: black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Security status: In critical condition.
Listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)- one of two species of African rhinoceros. Despite the name, it can have different colors: from dark yellow to dark brown or dark gray. It is distinguished from white by the presence of a tenacious upper lip, which is adapted for feeding on the leaves of woody and herbaceous plants. Also, the black rhinoceros has a shorter head, the horn is directed forward, and the body is more elongated and less massive.

Black rhinoceroses have two horns, and in some cases a small third one may be present. The anterior horn is larger than the posterior one; on average, its length is 50 centimeters. The size of the black rhinoceros varies between 800-2000 kilograms, but sometimes you can find individuals over 2 tons. Black rhinoceroses live in transitional forest grassland zones, but are also found in the deserts of southwest Africa and the forests of Kenya. This species, as a rule, chooses a habitat within a 25-kilometer zone of accessibility to water sources. Black rhinos love to pamper themselves by spending a lot of time in the water or taking mud baths. This is how these animals cool down.

Adults prefer a solitary lifestyle, although they can form groups of up to 12 representatives. Mothers and daughters tend to stay together for long periods of time, and females without offspring may unite. Conflict situations arise when outsiders enter territory occupied by another clan, and during mating season, the fight for females can even lead to the death of one of the competing males. Despite the fact that females reach sexual maturity at the age of 4-5 years, they cannot have offspring until 6.5-7 years. Males have to wait up to 10-12 years to claim territory and females. Black rhinoceros breeding can occur throughout the year. The gestation period lasts 419-478 days. The time interval between the birth of offspring in one female is 2.5-3.5 years. The lifespan of a black rhinoceros is 40-50 years.

The black rhinoceros's diet consists of tree branches, legumes and various types of plants, but the most favorite delicacy is acacia. Feeding usually occurs early in the morning or evening, as rhinoceroses rest during the day. If water is nearby, these animals will drink it daily. They also regularly lick useful minerals.

History of population size and distribution

Historical range of the black rhinoceros

Black rhinoceroses were once distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the Congo River basin. Even the fact that these animals are solitary was not noticed due to large quantity. During the day they could be found in flocks numbering dozens of individuals. The estimated number of black rhinoceros on the continent was around 70,000. However, uncontrolled hunting by European settlers catastrophically reduced the population and habitats of the black rhinoceros. By the end of the 1960s, these animals had disappeared from many countries or were on the verge of extinction.

A surge in the poaching epidemic in the early 1970s destroyed most of the black rhinoceroses living in the region, and also significantly reduced the number of these animals in national parks and nature reserves. In the late 1970s and 1980s, black rhinoceros numbers in some regions declined by 40-90%. In 1981, there were only 10,000-15,000 individuals on the continent. Since 1980, black has probably disappeared from Angola, Botswana, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan and Zambia. In 1993, only 2,475 black rhinos were recorded. However, in general, the population decline had stabilized by this time. Since 1996, most groups of this species have shown slight increases in overall populations.

Population size and distribution of the species in our time

Current habitat of the black rhinoceros

Thanks to successful conservation efforts and anti-poaching efforts, the total number of black rhinoceros has increased to 4,838 individuals. This species currently has an uneven distribution from Cameroon west to Kenya and east to southern South Africa. However, almost 98% of total number The black rhinoceros lives in only 4 countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya. Of these countries, the Republic of South Africa is home to approximately 40% of the total number of black rhinoceros living in the wild.

Subspecies

There are four main subspecies of the black rhinoceros:

• South Central Black Rhinoceros ( D. bicornis minor): Historically, the habitat extended from central Tanzania through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique to northern and eastern South Africa. This subspecies is now found in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with smaller numbers found in southern Tanzania. The restored habitats are located in Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia. The south-central black rhinoceros is by far the most numerous subspecies, but is still classified as critically endangered.

• Southwestern black rhinoceros ( D. bicornis bicornis): This subspecies is most adapted to living in arid and semi-arid savannas. Their habitat included: southern Angola, western Botswana, southeastern and southwestern South Africa. Now the subspecies is widespread in Namibia and South Africa. The population of the subspecies is in critical condition.

• East African black rhinoceros ( D. bicornis michaeli): Historically, its distribution was recorded in the territory southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and north-central Tanzania. Now you can find a smaller number of this subspecies in Kenya, and most of the subspecies is distributed in northern Tanzania. The subspecies is in critical condition.

• West African black rhinoceros ( D. bicornis longipes): Was distributed in the savannas of most countries in West Africa. By the beginning of the century, the number of this subspecies was reduced to only a few individuals in the north of Cameroon. During a large study in 2006, not a single individual of this subspecies was found. The West African black rhinoceros has been officially declared extinct since 2011.

Despite the fact that scientists are now trying to do everything to preserve it, the most unusual representatives of unique creatures still disappear every year.

Thus, humanity lost a unique giant, and today - in 2013 - we can safely say that the black rhinoceros is extinct. For several decades, they tried to preserve this species, but poachers and other criminals were quicker, and this extraordinary animal disappeared from the face of the Earth forever. The history of rhinoceroses goes back hundreds of years, during which they existed peacefully in savannas and on green continents.

The black rhinoceros originated in Africa, and originally there were two species of this animal: white and black. It is noteworthy that both have gray skin color. The differences in their names depended on the places where the giants lived, or more precisely, on the color and composition of the earth. As you know, rhinoceroses love to wallow in mud, and, accordingly, the soil, which was more clayey, gave the animal’s skin a white tint.

Description

The black rhinoceros is a large animal, weighing up to two tons, and its length was more than 3 meters (with a height of 1.5 meters). Although we are accustomed to the fact that the wayward giant has only one horn on its head, in fact, African individuals usually had 2, and sometimes 5.

The front horn was the largest, and its length sometimes reached half a meter. In history, there have been individuals whose main tusk reached a length of more than a meter. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were a huge number of black rhinoceroses, and they were the most common inhabitants of the savannah. These amazing animals lived in central, eastern and southern Africa.

Rhino lifestyle and behavior

Rhinoceroses ate young shoots of bushes and tolerated heat well. Animals walked very far to water, sometimes covering distances of 8-10 km. In its way of life, the black rhinoceros was rather a loner.

The female's pregnancy lasted about 15-16 months, and only one baby was born, who fed on mother's milk for several years.

Black rhinoceroses spent the night wherever it was convenient for them, because their huge size allowed them not to be afraid of anyone. The giants slept on their sides or with their legs tucked under them. It used to be that animals marked their territory by leaving huge piles of dung. In fact, this happened spontaneously, without any reason. Black rhinoceroses grazed both day and night - at any convenient time.

The only danger to the rhinoceros was lions, which sometimes attacked small cubs. But most often the predators themselves suffered, since in a fight, even with one rhinoceros, there was little chance of victory. Rhinoceroses, however, are very short-sighted and slow. This played against them when poachers attacked. Even while on a short distance from a person or a tree, the animals could not recognize it. But the hearing of rhinoceroses is well developed. Some hunters noted the ability of clumsy fat men to sense danger a kilometer away and successfully escape.

A distinctive feature of the giants, of course, was their hot temper. Being in, it would seem, calm state, in a second the rhinoceros could go berserk and start attacking zoo or nature reserve workers. There were often cases when, during their travels, tourists on safari encountered an aggressive animal that literally overturned their car. Despite its slowness and clumsiness, the rhinoceros can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour or more.

So in a fair fight he always wins. It is known that rhinoceroses sometimes clash with elephants, and usually these “fights” end in death for one of the rivals. Most often, the reason for the dispute is the reluctance of one of the giants to give way to the other. And, despite the fact that the elephant is much larger, his opponent always had quite an impressive weapon with him. As is known, the length of the black rhinoceros's horn was at least 0.5 meters, so it could cause serious injuries to a larger animal.

There were four subspecies of this individual.

South central black rhinoceros

The habitat of this animal is from central North Africa to eastern South Africa. The largest number of individuals could be found in southern region. In fact, this subspecies still exists, but is already listed in the Red Book, and its condition is currently assessed as critical.

Southwestern black rhinoceros

This subspecies of rhinoceroses is most adapted to living in arid places. The animals lived in Namibia and Angola, South-East, South-West and South Africa. At the moment, the subspecies is also on the verge of extinction.

East African rhinoceros

Historically, this subspecies was located in Ethiopia and Somalia. Some representatives of the East African rhinoceros can now be found in Kenya, but the number of individuals is reduced to a minimum each year, and they are now in critical condition.

West African black rhinoceros

Let us remind you that the African black rhinoceros has now completely disappeared and is officially declared extinct. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the number of this species was only a few individuals, and scientists tried to preserve them until the very end. After research in 2006, experts were unable to detect a single representative of the West African black rhinoceros. Therefore, in 2011, this subspecies was officially declared extinct.

What caused the extinction of rhinoceroses?

First of all, this is all connected with the active activities of poachers in Africa, who sell not only the meat and skin of these amazing animals, but also actively hunt for their unique horns, the cost of which amounts to a very impressive amount.

According to the comments of scientists, the main reason for the complete extinction of the black rhinoceros and the potential extinction of the white one is the negligent attitude on the part of the state to protect the giants in their habitats. Every year more and more appear in Africa criminal gangs, which continue to exterminate the already small populations of rhinoceroses and other endangered species.

According to the latest research by biologists, white rhinoceroses, also living in northern Africa, are now on the verge of extinction. If no measures are taken in the near future to preserve the population of these giants, then very soon there will simply be no more of these amazing animals left in the world. The black rhinoceros (photos presented in the article) is truly an unprecedented creation of nature, and it is unfortunate that now it can only be seen in photographs.

Conclusion

It’s sad, but today on our planet about 40 species of animals are in or on the verge of extinction. If humanity continues to mercilessly exterminate amazing representatives of nature, then soon there will simply be no more of them left. Despite the fact that there is now an active fight against poachers, groups of hunters are constantly destroying unique animals. Criminals are acquiring more and more advanced equipment and weapons to catch even the largest individuals. At the moment, the black rhinoceros has been declared extinct, but there are still many representatives of the subspecies of this giant on Earth that we can still try to preserve.

The black rhinoceros belongs to equid mammals, belongs to the Rhinoceros family and is one of two species of animals that live in Africa. The species to which this rhinoceros belongs is listed in the Red Book and its condition is critical, and certain subspecies are classified as extinct species. If you translate the name of this animal from Latin, it will sound like “two-horned”.

Appearance of a western black rhinoceros

The black rhinoceros is not actually black. Its thick skin is colored grey colour, but since the animal constantly rocks in the ground, it gives it a completely different color. Color can be:

• brown;
• brick red;
• dark gray;
• white;
• black.

The color of the skin depends on the type of soil in the area where the animal lives. Rhinoceroses are black in color and live in areas with solidified lava.

It is very easy to distinguish a black rhinoceros from a white African one. because they have differences in appearance and behavior. The black rhinoceros has a short and thick neck, which is much wider than its short head. The neck begins behind the withers and ends under a wide dewlap, which is separated from the head and shoulders by two large folds. The frontal part resembles a saddle, as it is concave inside the muzzle.

The upper lip of these animals is slightly pointed and looks like a proboscis; with this proboscis the rhinoceros grabs food. The upper lip hangs over the lower lip, which has a rounded, blunt shape. The lips become covered with folds that can stretch and diverge. Black rhinos have very small eyes with many wrinkles around them. The pupils of these animals are oblong. They have wide and short ears, at the base of which there are several folds. Short and thick hair grows along the edges of the ears.

Horns grow directly from the skin and are in no way connected to the skeleton.. They are a protein substance; they contain keratin, which is found in human hair and nails, in porcupine quills and armadillo shells. The main one is the front horn, which is also the longest, its length can reach 60 centimeters. And the longest horn was that of a rhinoceros that lived in Kenya National Park. The length of the horn was 1.3 meters.

The second horn of the animal is half the size of the first. The horns of the black rhinoceros are directed forward and upward, and not vertically, this is another difference from its white relative. The end of the main horn is slightly bent back. At first, the horn is shaped like a diamond, with rounded corners. Sometimes animals of this species have not two, but 3-5 horns. If a young animal damages its horn, it can recover, but in adult animals the horns do not recover.

The black rhinoceros is more of an animal. Its body length can reach three meters, and the height is 1.5 meters. Most animals weigh two tons. But there are rhinoceroses that weigh even more. Animals of this species have a short tail that hangs down. Their limbs are slender and neat, they have properly developed soles and hooves, which have three toes. They also have two folds that are located between the front and hind legs. The rest of the animal's skin is smooth and smooth.

Lifestyle

Basically, black equids live in areas with dry landscapes, and they do not leave these areas even during periods of very severe droughts. These mammals are strongly attached to the territory where they settle., and, as a rule, do not leave her throughout her life. But there are rhinoceroses that roam, looking for water and food. Black rhinoceroses are solitary animals, females and males live separately. Cubs for a long time live with a female, especially female offspring. When black rhinos go out for a walk, the female follows her offspring, while for white rhinos it’s the other way around. Sometimes you can find small clans, which include no more than twelve individuals. Females that do not have cubs form groups.

These animals eat plants- all sorts of young shoots, legumes, branches and thorns. Eating such food, they do not notice its hardness, sharp thorns and their very caustic juice. Their favorite “dish” is acacia. Animals get food with the help of their upper lip, which is movable in its structure.

These odd-toed ungulates have very poor eyesight, they can hardly see a tree or a person that is fifty meters away from them, for this reason, when meeting a rhinoceros, you need to freeze and not make any movements. But their hearing is good and their sense of smell is very well developed, thanks to this the animals are well oriented in the area. Despite his heavy weight, They can run very fast, reaching speeds of up to 48 kilometers per hour. They do not know how to overcome obstacles and swim. These wonderful animals are very sociable. You can often hear them snort, but when they are in pain or scared they make loud sounds that sound like a whistle.

Despite their sociability, the animals are very aggressive and can attack any object that moves. These horned animals are not afraid of other inhabitants of the shroud and even let them get close to them, but animals that get in the way of a rhinoceros can suffer greatly, since an angry rhinoceros is quite dangerous. Competition may sometimes arise between males for a female or for territory. But more often females and males fight. And, for example, they live in peace with antelopes, zebras and buffalos. When animals go to a watering hole and the rhinoceros does not want to give way to the elephant, a fight ensues and the elephant often wins. The black rhino's main rival is the elephant..

The avid enemies of equids are lions, Nile crocodiles and hyenas. But attacks on adult animals are extremely rare. This usually happens when the rhinoceros is lying in the mud, then it becomes an easy prey. Mostly enemies attack cubs. People are also enemies of these animals, as they often hunt them to get trophies. Average duration The life of rhinoceroses is about forty years.

Reproduction

Rhino reproduction does not depend on the season. Females begin to mate and give birth to offspring when they reach seven years of age, but they reach sexual maturity at four years of age. Males are ready to reproduce at a young age, but this happens at 10-12 years of age. Rhinoceroses do not live in pairs and only come together to breed. The female's pregnancy lasts fifteen months.. Basically, only one cub is born, which very quickly gets to its feet. The female feeds her offspring with milk. This may last up to two years. A female can produce offspring no more than once every four years.

Subspecies

There are four subspecies:

1. South-central subspecies. Lives in South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. This subspecies is the most numerous.
2. Southwestern subspecies. It can be found in South Africa and Namibia. Rhinoceroses of this species tend to live in arid and semi-arid areas. The number of the species is critical.
3. East African subspecies. Individuals of this species live in Tanzania and Kenya. This subspecies is on the verge of extinction.
4. West African subspecies. Since 2011, this subspecies is considered extinct, and before that it lived in Cameroon.

Currently, 98% of these animals live in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia. Most of the animals live in national parks, where their habitat never changes.