# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Grasslands and savannas - **Also known as:** Hook-lipped Rhinoceros ![Black Rhinoceros](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426408/objects/4529.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Perissodactyla - **Family:** Rhinocerotidae - **Genus:** Diceros ## 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 - **Super Sniffer:** Black Rhinoceros has an incredible sense of smell that helps them find food and spot potential dangers from far away. - **Agile Navigator:** Black Rhinoceros can run surprisingly fast and turn quickly in dense bush, helping them escape predators like lions. - **Precise Browser:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-lion) (*Panthera leo*) — can prey on young or vulnerable rhino calves - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Protected](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/protected): Protected status signifies a species or area is safeguarded by legal measures and conservation efforts to prevent harm or loss. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always admire rhinos from a safe distance and remember they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Rhinoceros? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black Rhinoceros? 280-380 cm ### How much does Black Rhinoceros weigh? 800-1400 kg ### How long does Black Rhinoceros live? 30-35 years ### How fast can Black Rhinoceros move? 55 km/h ### What does Black Rhinoceros eat? This mega-herbivore uses its unique lip to browse on a variety of plants, helping shape its environment. ### Where is Black Rhinoceros usually found? Grasslands and savannas ### How does Black Rhinoceros hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesker-park-zoo-and-botanic-garden) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Disney's Animal Kingdom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/disneys-animal-kingdom) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Honolulu Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/honolulu-zoo) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Kansas City Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kansas-city-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Great Plains Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-plains-zoo) — South Dakota, US · Zoo - [Saint Louis Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-louis-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo [View all places to see Black Rhinoceros](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-rhinoceros) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Black Rhinoceros: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rhinoceros)