Difference between revisions of "Rhinoceros (genus)" - New World Encyclopedia
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The two extant species in the ''Rhinoceros'' genus are both found in Asia, the Indian rhino (''R. unicornis'') and the Javan rhinoceros (''R. rhinoceros''). The Sumatran rhinoceros also is found in Asia, but the other two extant rhinos are found in Africa. | The two extant species in the ''Rhinoceros'' genus are both found in Asia, the Indian rhino (''R. unicornis'') and the Javan rhinoceros (''R. rhinoceros''). The Sumatran rhinoceros also is found in Asia, but the other two extant rhinos are found in Africa. | ||
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| + | The '''Indian Rhinoceros''' or the '''Great One-horned Rhinoceros''' or the '''Asian One-horned Rhinoceros''' (''Rhinoceros unicornis'') is a large mammal found in [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[Pakistan]] and in [[Assam]], [[India]]. It is confined to the tall [[grasslands]] and [[forests]] in the foothills of the [[Himalayas]]. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to {{convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight. | ||
==Indian rhinoceros== | ==Indian rhinoceros== | ||
(''R. unicornis'') and | (''R. unicornis'') and | ||
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| + | The '''Indian Rhinoceros''' or the '''Great One-horned Rhinoceros''' or the '''Asian One-horned Rhinoceros''' (''Rhinoceros unicornis'') is a large mammal found in [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[Pakistan]] and in [[Assam]], [[India]]. It is confined to the tall [[grasslands]] and [[forests]] in the foothills of the [[Himalayas]]. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to {{convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight. | ||
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| + | In size it is equal to that of the [[white rhino]] in Africa; together they are the largest of all rhino species. Fully grown males are larger than females in the wild, weighing from 2200- 3000 kg (4,800 - 6,600 lb). Female Indian rhinos weigh about 1600 kg. The Indian Rhino is from 1.7 to 2 m tall (5.7 to 6.7 feet) and can be up to 4m (13 ft) long. The record-sized specimen of this rhino was approximately 3500 kg. | ||
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| + | The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros has a single [[horn (anatomy)|horn]]; this is present in both males and females, but not on newborn young. The horn, like human fingernails, is pure [[keratin]] and starts to show after about 6 years. In most adults the horn reaches a length of about 25 centimeters,<ref>{{Harvnb|Dinerstein|2003|pp=272}}</ref> but have been recorded up to 57.2 centimeters in length. The nasal horn curves backwards from the nose. Its horn is naturally black. | ||
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==Javan rhinoceros== | ==Javan rhinoceros== | ||
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[[Category:Ungulates]] | [[Category:Ungulates]] | ||
| − | {{credit|Rhinoceros_(genus)|255990817}} | + | {{credit|Rhinoceros_(genus)|255990817|Indian_Rhinoceros|268519214}} |
Revision as of 23:50, 8 February 2009
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 Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
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Rhinoceros unicornis |
The genus Rhinoceros of the family Rhinocerotidae includes the one-horned rhinoceroses, of which there are two extant species: the Indian rhinoceros (R. unicornis) and the Javan rhinoceros (R. sondaicus). These are characterized by one horn (actually thickly matted hair) on the upper snout.
The Javan rhinoceros is one of the most endangered large mammals in the world with only 60 individuals surviving, in only two known locations: Java (Indonesia) and Vietnam.
Overview and description
The Rhinoceros genus is one of four extant genera of rhinoceroses in the rhinoceros family (Rhinocerotidae), the others being Ceratotherium (white rhinocerosis, C. simum), Diceros (black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis), and Dicerorhinus (Sumatran rhinoceros, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). All extant rhinoceroses are large, thick-skinned herbivores, with three functional toes on each foot, and either one or two horns on the upper snout. Members of the Rhinoceros genus are characterized by just one horn on the upper snout, while the other extant genera are represented by species with two horns, although one of the Sumatran rhino's horns typically is a stub. These projections are not true horns, but rather are epidermal derivatives, composed of a solid mass of thickly matted hair that grows from the skull without skeletal support.
The word "rhinoceros" is of Greek origin; rhino, meaning "nose," and cero, meaning "horn."
The two extant species in the Rhinoceros genus are both found in Asia, the Indian rhino (R. unicornis) and the Javan rhinoceros (R. rhinoceros). The Sumatran rhinoceros also is found in Asia, but the other two extant rhinos are found in Africa.
The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h) for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight.
Indian rhinoceros
(R. unicornis) and
The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h) for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight.
In size it is equal to that of the white rhino in Africa; together they are the largest of all rhino species. Fully grown males are larger than females in the wild, weighing from 2200- 3000 kg (4,800 - 6,600 lb). Female Indian rhinos weigh about 1600 kg. The Indian Rhino is from 1.7 to 2 m tall (5.7 to 6.7 feet) and can be up to 4m (13 ft) long. The record-sized specimen of this rhino was approximately 3500 kg.
The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros has a single horn; this is present in both males and females, but not on newborn young. The horn, like human fingernails, is pure keratin and starts to show after about 6 years. In most adults the horn reaches a length of about 25 centimeters,[1] but have been recorded up to 57.2 centimeters in length. The nasal horn curves backwards from the nose. Its horn is naturally black.
Javan rhinoceros
the Javan rhinoceros (R. sondaicus).
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- ↑ Dinerstein 2003, pp. 272
