The subspecies of the White Rhino in central Africa, the Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is currently teetering on the brink of extinction and has been listed as Possibly Extinct in the Wild. In 2011 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the western black rhino extinct:įor example, the reassessments of several Rhinoceros species show that the subspecies of the Black Rhino in western Africa, the Western Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes) has officially been declared Extinct. However, people seem to frequently forget that the western black rhino has been gone for years, and intermittently "discover" the news to mourn anew. However, most social media posts shared in April 2015 referenced that status as a sudden and recent occurrence, when in fact the decline of the western black rhino was not sudden, nor was the determination of the species' extinction a recent occurrence. It is true that the western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes) has been declared extinct. The photograph shown above was appended to many posts about that species of rhinoceros, often shared from the Facebook page of Atlanta television station WXIA.
Sometimes it can break off, however, this regenerates and grows back eventually.In April 2015, users of social media sites lamented news that the western black rhino had been officially declared extinct. Black Rhinos will fight each other over territory and females – even courting males and females sometimes fight one another.īlack Rhinos use the larger of their two horns as a weapon when fighting. Black Rhinos will attack other animals though if their territory is threatened, they also fight amongst themselves. Most of their ‘charges’ are bluffs but because they act in this way, they have been given a bad reputation as being aggressive and dangerous.īlack Rhinos do however, live in harmony with other animals generally. If it catches a smell of an unfamiliar presence, then it will instinctively charge mistaking it as a threat. They rely heavily on their strong sense of smell and well developed hearing. Black Rhinos have been known to attack trees and rocks by mistake. This is important because it allows grasses to grow which provides food for many other animals on the grassy plains.īlack Rhinos have a tendency to attack just about anything, this is because of their poor eyesight.
#ARE BLACK RHINOCEROS EXTINCT SKIN#
The Black Rhinos skin harbours many external parasites, which are eaten by birds such as the ox peckers and egrets that live with the rhino.īlack Rhinos are heavy browsers that restrict woody plants from over-growing in their habitat. The Black Rhinos prehensile lip is used much like a finger to select and pick the twigs and leaves that they prefer. Black Rhinos tend to live alone, except when breeding and raising offspring.īlack rhinos have a ‘prehensile’ lip – ‘prehensile’ meaning – adapted for grasping and holding.
Black Rhinos can still show considerable bouts of aggression, even though they are mainly shy and solitary animals. The Black rhino is smaller than the White rhino and is more agile in movement. These horns are used for defence, intimidation and digging up roots and breaking branches during feeding.
Sometimes, a third smaller horn may develop. The rhinos two horns on their skull are made of keratin with the larger front horn typically 50 centimetres long, some can measure up to 140 centimetres. An adult weighs from 800 to 1400 kilograms (1,760 to 3,080 pounds), some may weigh 1820 kilograms (4,000 pounds), with the females being smaller than the males. An adult Black Rhinoceros stands 140 – 170 centimetres (57.9 – 63 inches) high at the shoulder and is 3.3 – 3.6 metres (10.8 – 11.8 feet) in length.
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