Rhinoceros
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A rhinoceros (commonly called a rhino for short) is any of five living species of mammals in the family Rhinocerotidae, of the order Perissodactyla.
The rhinoceros is an herbivore (it only eats plants).
All five are native to Africa or Asia. The two in Africa are the White Rhinoceros and the Black Rhinoceros. The three in Asia (including islands of Indonesia) are the Javan Rhinoceros, Sumatran Rhinoceros, and Indian Rhinoceros. Only the White Rhinoceros is not in critical danger of becoming extinct because of humans killing them even though it is illegal, and the White Rhino in some danger of becoming extinct. Loss of habitat is also a danger to all rhinos.
The easiest part of the rhinos to see, that similar animals do not have, is a large horn on the nose. Their horns, unlike those of other horned mammals, consist of keratin (hair) packed together very tightly. Rhinoceros horns are used in Asian medicine, and for dagger handles in Yemen and Oman which is leading to extinction of these animals.
[edit] Taxonomy
- Family Rhinocerotidae
- Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
- White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
- Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
- Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
- Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
[edit] External links
