Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
Black Rhinoceros: Solitary browser of dry savannas and bushlands.
| Scientific name | Diceros bicornis |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Kifaru mweusi |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Size | Male: 800-1400 kg; Female: 700-1200 kg |
How to identify
Relatively small body size, sparse body hair; two distinct horns, the front horn longer and curved; hook-shaped mouth adapted for browsing shrub leaves; skin is wrinkled and darker in color; ears are large and flexible
Habitat
Open woodland savanna, shrubland, edges of dry forests and valley areas
Diet
Herbivorous, primarily feeding on shrub leaves, twigs, and young foliage
When it is active
Active both day and night, with increased activity at dawn and dusk
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in East and Southern African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe; small populations in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
How to spot it
Observe during soft light at dawn or dusk, remain quiet to avoid disturbance, use binoculars or telephoto lenses, maintain a safe distance
Photography tips
Use telephoto lenses to capture details, photograph in low light to highlight skin texture, choose simple backgrounds to emphasize the subject, avoid disturbing natural behavior
Threats
Poaching (demand for horn products), habitat loss and fragmentation, political conflicts increasing protection challenges
Similar species
White Rhinoceros (broad, flat mouth adapted for grazing; larger body size, lighter color); Indian Rhinoceros (single horn, thick and wrinkled skin)
