Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

The Black Rhinoceros is a large, strong animal with a big horn on its nose. They are gentle giants that love to munch on leaves and bushes in the wild.

Habitat: Grasslands and savannas

Appearance

The Black Rhinoceros has a thick, dark grey hide that often appears lighter or darker depending on the mud it rolls in. It features a distinctive hooked or prehensile upper lip, which helps grasp food, and two prominent horns on its snout, differentiating it from the square-lipped White Rhinoceros.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPerissodactylaFamilyRhinocerotidaeGenusDiceros

Black Rhinoceros

Interesting facts

A group of rhinos is called a 'crash,' which makes perfect sense for these powerful, often solitary creatures!

Black Rhinos can create their own pathways through dense bush, shaping the landscape as they forage.

Despite their name, Black Rhinos are usually dark grey, with their color depending on the soil and mud they wallow in!

They use piles of poop, called 'middens,' like signposts to communicate messages with other rhinos in their territory!

Special abilities

Black Rhinoceros has an incredible sense of smell that helps them find food and spot potential dangers from far away.

Black Rhinoceros can run surprisingly fast and turn quickly in dense bush, helping them escape predators like lions.

Black Rhinoceros has a unique, prehensile upper lip that helps them expertly grasp and strip leaves from thorny branches.

Measurements & details

Length: 280-380 cm
Weight: 800-1400 kg
Lifespan: 30-35 years
Top Speed: 55 km/h
Litter Size: 1
Gestation: 450-480 days

Diet & Feeding

This mega-herbivore uses its unique lip to browse on a variety of plants, helping shape its environment.

Primary Foods

Twigs
Leaves
Shoots
Thorny bushes
Fruits

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

symbiotic with

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

eats ticks and can alarm rhino to danger

eaten by

African Lion

Panthera leo

can prey on young or vulnerable rhino calves

eaten by

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

may target calves or injured adults

eats

Umbrella Thorn Acacia

Vachellia tortilis

browses leaves and branches from this common tree

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Horned

Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Savanna

This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons.