Rhinoceros
Scientific Name: Rhinoceros sondaicus (Javan rhino)
Rhinoceros unicornus (Indian rhino)
Diceros Rhicornus (Black rhino)
Habitat
Rhinoceros, or rhinos for short, live in three places. The first is in zoos around the world. The second is Africa, and the third is in very little parts of Asia. In Africa they live in the beautiful African plains. The grass is free, wild, and gold in color, while there are very few acacia trees dotted here and there. Also, there are a couple of large watering holes that rhinos share with other animals like zebras, giraffes, elephants, and hippopotamus. In Asia, they live in India, Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Java.
Diet
Rhinos eat mostly grass. But otherwise they eat vegetation like shrubs and possibly even fallen acacia tree leaves. Rhinos, all of them, are herbivores, which means that they only eats vegetation, no meat. Yeah, rhinos don't have a very interesting diet, I know.
Description
Rhinos are very big, even though they aren't as big as elephants. However, they are the same color as elephants; they're gray. However, depending on the species, it be a darker or lighter gray. The skin is layered on their body in extremely strong plates that would feel kind of like a shield to the human hand, which is why they are such great fighters. They don't get hurt easily. They also have, right smack dab in the middle of their faces, they have 1-2 giant horns, also gray in color, that are also used for defense. Also, they're feet look exactly like elephants, except a bit smaller. They also have tails, with a tiny puff of dark fur at the end.
Types
Their are 5 species of rhino that aren't extinct yet. They are the White Rhino, the Black Rhino, the Indian Rhino, the Sumatran Rhino, and the Javan Rhino. The rhino type that has already gone extinct is the the West African Black Rhino. However, the Black and White Rhinos are on the endangered species list because so many poachers are killing them for their cool horns. Poor fellas!
Fun Facts
- A rhino's horn isn't made of bone or anything like that; it's made of super tough hair that is all packed together to make the horn shape.
- Rhinos aren't usually angry when they charge. Usually it's because they are startled.
- Rhinos have terrible eyesight and great hearing
- A group of rhinos is called a "crash"
- Rhinos LOVE to roll in the mud. They do it so that they don't get sunburned!