Description: The critically endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) inhabits eastern and southern Africa. The black rhinoceros has poor eyesight but acute hearing and sense of smell. It has a hooked upper lip that enables it to grasp vegetation and strip leaves from stems and branches. Adult black rhinos weigh between 800kg-1400kg (1760lb-3080lb) and are up to 3m (10ft) in length with 58cm (23in) tails (Source: Burnie and Wilson 230).
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Perissodactyla
- Family: Rhinocerotidae
- Genus: Diceros
- Species: Diceros bicornus (Source: Jansa)
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Habitat: Black rhinos inhabit woodland savannas that are characterized by a mix of grass and trees. The also require available water sources for both drinking and bathing (Source: Burnie and Williams 230).
Range: Black rhinos are currently found primarily within protected areas of Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa (Source: Jansa).
Diet: Vegetation. Leaves, grasses, shoots, twigs (Source: Burnie and Wilson 230).
Status: Red List Category & Criteria (ver 2.3, 1994): CR A2abc. Critically endangered with a population reduction of up to 80% expected (Source: 'African').
Sources:
- African Rhino Specialist Group 2003. 'Diceros bicornis' (On-line), IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed 07 June 2005.
- Burnie, D. and D.E. Wilson. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. London. 2001.
- Jansa, S. 1999. 'Diceros bicornis' (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 07, 2005.
Links: For more information about black rhinos, see:
