Indian One-horned Rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis

Labels: Indian Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros, Rhino

Binomial name: Rhinoceros unicornis
Common name: One horned Rhinoceros

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Rhinoceros
Species:	R. unicornis

Salient Features:

Length – Up to 3.8 m

Shoulder Height – 1.7 to 1.8 m

Weight – 1,816 to 2,270 Kg

Gestation Period – 16 months

Longevity – 30 to 45 years

Description: The One-horned Rhinoceros are heavily built animals. Their thick legs enable them in carrying such bulky body. But despite their enormous bulk, they can charge up to 30 mph even through thick scrub. Indian Rhinos are the largest of all Asian Rhinos. The males are larger and have thick neck fold as compared to the females. Their skin is heavily folded, up to 2 cm thick. This gives an appearance of plates of armor. They don’t have a true horn like in cattles. Their horns are entirely made of a mass of agglutinate hair and keratin, which gradually gets tough by some exudation from its skin and nostrils. These horns are merely attached to their skin, and may even fall off during battles between Rhinos, but it can grow another one. They are short sighted animals, but have keen sense of smell.

Status: Due to the assumed magical and aphrodisiac properties ascribed to its horn, the Indian Rhinos have been hunted almost to extinction. Their IUCN status shows them as endangered.