MAMMALIA: PERISSODACTYLA: RHINOCEROTIDAE: Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros unicornis

Greater Indian Rhinoceros

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

 
Photo taken at Senckenberg Natural History Museum, Frankfurt.

Range: Pakistan east to Myanmar (Burma), but in small patches across this region.

Diagnosis: A single-horned rhino with thick, armor-like skin covered in large convex nodules. The similar Javan rhino (R. sondaicus) has small nodules.

Description: A large, bulky animal with a long blunt head, acute downward-pointing lip, and a single broad high horn. Ears nearly cylindrical, as long as distance from eye. Eyes tiny, about 1/3 diameter of nostril. Skin thick, forming patches of leather or armor-looking folds. Males may reach 400 cm/13 feet in length, and weigh 2,200 kg/ 5,000 lbs.

Natural History: This species was once widely distributed across southern Asia. Today its range is o limited and habitat so altered that rhinos are crepuscular raiders of agricultural lands. They do not form family groups or herds.

Rhinos are strong creatures that had few natural predators of note until the advent of humans. Their eyesight is notoriously myopic, but they are very long-lived, with a life expectancy in excess of 45 years.

Reproduction: Mating occurs year-round, and gestation of the single baby takes 450-491 days. Females become mature at about 5-7 years of age.

Taxonomy & Relationships: Rhinos, along with horses and tapirs, form the perissodactyl group (odd-toed hoofed vegetarian mammals). There are three genera of rhinos besides Rhinoceros.

Photo taken at Senckenberg Natural History Museum, Frankfurt.

Variation:

Additional Comments: All rhinos are severely endangered. Poachers collect the horns, which are sold to African and Asian apothecaries who erroneously believe that powdered horn is a cure for male impotence.

Type Specimen:

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