Introduction
Unfortunately, humans often aim to improve their living conditions by hunting animals for various purposes, which frequently leads to some species’ partial or complete extinction. One such example is the black rhinoceros, as quite a few representatives of this species are left. The black rhino was selected for this report because they have a rather exciting and unpredictable character. An unaware person is likely to fail when distinguishing a black rhino from a white one because their skin color is almost the same. This report explores the characteristics of the black rhino and describes the species from an environmental angle.
Discussion
To begin with, these animals belong to the phylum Chordata and the class Mammalia. A scientific name for the black rhinoceros is Diceros bicornis, partly descriptive of the animal. According to researchers, “‘ Di’ means ‘two,’ ‘Cerato’ meaning ‘horn’ in Greek and ‘bi’ meaning ‘two,’ and ‘corners’ meaning ‘horn’ in Latin” (Save the Rhino, 2023, para. 1). Black rhinos do have two horns. Still, this feature does not distinguish them from the white ones, so the scientific name does not fully describe the species.
To understand that one sees a black and not a white rhino, one should estimate the animal’s size and the shape of its lips (WWF, 2023). Representatives of the selected species are smaller than white rhinoceros, with a smaller head, a shorter forehead, and a less pronounced hump (Save the Rhino, 2023). At the same time, they have a more muscled neck and hooked lips, while white rhinos have a square or flat-based one.
An interesting fact should be mentioned when discussing the black rhino’s diet. Both black and white rhinoceros are herbivores, but the former group of animals is browsers. It means that they eat shrubs, bushes, fruits, and trees, unlike white rhinos, which are grazers. What is more, “during the dry and arid season, they prefer leafy plants, as it serves to quench their thirst to an extent” (“Black Rhinoceros,” n.d., para. 6).
As stated by researchers, the lip shape and muscled neck of black rhinoceros are associated with this dietary pattern, making it easier for them to get food (Save the Rhino, 2023). As for their locomotion, the selected animals lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle; however, when needed, they can dash (Save the Rhino, 2023). The black rhino lives in shrublands, savannas, subtropical and tropical grasslands, and deserts, including African areas such as Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and Namibia.
There are some adaptations of black rhinos to specific environments and living conditions. For example, they have convenient upper and lower lip forms to better bite and chew branches and bushes and have a two-phased chewing mechanism, which better fits their diet (“Black Rhinoceros,” n.d.). Since they often experience drought, these animals can live approximately five days without water, and to better survive the hot climate, they wallow themselves in mud (“Black Rhinoceros,” n.d.). Since the black rhino has poor eyesight, this species adapted its hearing and smell senses. Lastly, another adaptation allows black rhinos to live among predators like crocodiles and lions: these animals have armor-like skin.
Further, under natural conditions, an average rhino lives about 35-50 years (“Black Rhinoceros,” n.d.). Female and male representatives become sexually mature between the ages of 5-7 and 7-8 years, respectively. Mating can happen at any time of the year, and breeding couples stay together for several days, mating more than once per day. A female rhino gives birth after 15-17 months, and the calves stay with their mother for several years before being rejected.
There are some exciting features of a black rhino’s behavior. While being active day and night, they do most of their drinking and foraging during the night-time (Save the Rhino, 2023). According to researchers, “black rhinos can be either solitary and territorial or semi-social and less aggressively-territorial, depending on the habitat” (Save the Rhino, 2023, para. 4). Males can be divided into subordinate and submissive, depending on their age. Due to their poor eyesight, scent-marking, including urine spraying, head rubbing, and dung piles, is the most effective way of communication for black rhinos.
Eventually, as mentioned earlier in the paper, this species will be critically endangered, and only approximately 6,000 representatives will remain in 2023. During the 19th century, these animals were hunted relentlessly across Africa. Starting from the 1970s, there was a high demand for rhino horns, and in 1992, only around 2,400 black rhinos were left (Save the Rhino, 2023). Nowadays, they are still endangered due to lacking safe and comfortable habitats, but people strive to help the species grow in numbers.
Conclusion
To conclude, black rhinoceros are exciting and amusing animals. While having the same skin color as white rhinos, the black ones have slight differences in body shapes, and their hooked lips make them browsers. They live in hot areas, such as deserts and tropics, and due to frequent drought and other conditions, have engaging adaptations, such as thick skin and excellent hearing. Some of this species’ representatives are aggressive and solitary, while others can be semi-social. Although humans have put this species on the brink of extinction, they are now trying to contribute to the growth of the population of black rhinos.
References
Black rhinoceros. (n.d.). Animal Spot. Web.
Save the Rhino. (2023). Black rhino. Web.
World Wildlife Fund [WWF]. (2023). Black rhino. Web.