What do you know About Rhinoceros?.

 

Here are some exciting Facts to know About the African Big game: Rhinoceros.

The rhinos as commonly called, is one of the African big fives. As one of the big five, They posseses a lot of features that make them unique in their own way.

Here, we are going to be unveiling some interesting facts about these herbivores for knowledge sake and for you to familiarize yourself with nature and wildlives.

The Rhinos are animals with special features and qualities that might interest you to know.

If you are indeed a lover of wildlives, you will attentively read through to know some exciting Facts about the rhinoceros.

1. Origin of their name

Two Greek words, ‘rhino’ meaning nose and ‘ceros’ meaning horn combine to create the word rhinoceros.

The rhino's horn is very useful to the rhino's especially for behavioral activities such as: defending, protecting the calves from other rhinos.

The nose of the rhino is used for sensing danger and food as well.

2. Number Of species.

There are obviously five extant species of the rhinos-white and black(found in Africa),India, Javan, and Sumatran(found in southern Asia).

The white rhino name likely derives from the Dutch word ‘wijd’ which means wide, which refers to the animal’s wide mouth, whilst the black rhino was so-named to distinguish it from the white rhino.

3. What do rhinos feed on?

The rhino is an animal that eats so well. The rhino depends solely on forages.

The black, Javan and Sumatran species are browsers, wrapping their prehensile upper lip around leaves and twigs when foraging. White and India rhinos are typical grazers.

4.What is Rhinos species called?

Rhinos belong to the group of animals called Perissodactyla, which are odd-toed ungulates. The group of animals that belong to this same specie include asses) and Tapiridae (tapirs).

5. Do you know their number of teeth?

The Rhinos have between 24 to 34 teeth, depending on the species.

Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in the African savannah

Black rhinoceros in the african savannah.

6. Is rhino horn medicinal?

Rhino horns are made of keratin, the same substance that makes up our nails and hair. It has no medical properties despite being used in traditional Asian medicine.

7. What do you know about their hearing and sense of smell?

Rhinos have fantastic hearing and a great sense of smell, but

have terrible eyesight. They will struggle to spot something further than 30m away.

8. Are Rhinos mud lovers?

Rhinos love wallowing by covering themselves with mud and letting it dry when they are protecting their skin from the sun. Rhinos will rub their bodies against tree trunks and rocks to remove ectoparasites, such as ticks, which have become stuck in the dry mud on their skin.

9. Do you know their reproductive habit?

Rhino gestation lasts between 15 and 16 months, usually giving birth to just one calf (twins are very rare). Young rhinos will remain with their mothers until they are between two or three years old.

10. Do rhinos mark their territories?

Rhino home ranges are marked with dung heaps called middens that are used by both male and females to communicate their whereabouts and reproductive condition.

11. Why do rhinos let birds sit on them?

Oxpeckers have a symbiotic relationship with rhinos. Rhinos have a host of ectoparasites on their hide that the birds eat, keeping the rhino free of parasites. The oxpeckers can also raise the alarm, warning the rhino if any danger is around.