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| Diceros bicornis | |
|---|---|
| Name | Black rhinoceros |
| Status | CR |
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Diceros |
| Species | bicornis |
| Authority | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Diceros bicornis is the scientific name for the black rhinoceros, a critically endangered large mammal native to eastern and southern Africa. It has been central to 20th and 21st century conservation efforts involving institutions such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Wide Fund for Nature, African Wildlife Foundation, United Nations Environment Programme, and national parks like Kruger National Park and Serengeti National Park. Prominent figures and events connected to its plight include conservationists such as Dian Fossey (by example of primate-placed conservation), policy milestones like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and international law responses such as actions by the International Criminal Court when wildlife crime intersects with conflict.
Described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, Diceros bicornis sits within the family Rhinocerotidae and order Perissodactyla, alongside genera such as Ceratotherium and extinct taxa like Woolly rhinoceros. Historic taxonomic work involved naturalists including George Cuvier and collectors associated with cabinets in British Museum and Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Subspecific designations have been debated by researchers publishing in journals affiliated with institutions like the Zoological Society of London and universities including Oxford University and University of Cape Town.
The black rhinoceros is notable for two horns composed of keratin and a prehensile upper lip adapted for browsing; morphological comparisons have been made with the white rhinoceros described in monographs from Smithsonian Institution researchers. Adult body mass and dimensions studied by teams from California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic Society show sexual dimorphism and skull characteristics referenced in the collections of Natural History Museum, London. Field studies by ecologists from University of Pretoria and Yale University have documented color, skin folds, and dentition used to distinguish it from sympatric species like African elephant and giraffe.
Historically widespread across Africa, modern populations persist in fragmented ranges within protected areas managed by authorities such as South African National Parks, Tanzania National Parks Authority, Kenya Wildlife Service, and private reserves like those in Namibia. Habitat types documented in ecological surveys by World Resources Institute and BirdLife International include savanna, shrubland, and montane thicket near sites such as Etosha National Park, Gonarezhou National Park, and Akagera National Park. Translocation programs coordinated by organizations like Panthera and Conservation International have altered distribution maps maintained by the IUCN Red List.
Solitary and territorial, black rhinoceros behavior has been studied using telemetry funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation and equipment from Wildlife Conservation Society projects. Social interactions are infrequent compared to species documented in studies at Loxodonta populations; reproductive behavior has been observed by researchers affiliated with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and captive breeding programs at zoos including San Diego Zoo and London Zoo. Predator interactions with lion and spotted hyena are recorded in ecological literature compiled by African Wildlife Research Institute.
Diceros bicornis is primarily a browser feeding on dicots and woody plants; dietary analyses cite forage species in floras cataloged by Kew Gardens and botanical surveys from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew collaborators. Foraging studies published with support from European Union grants indicate reliance on shrubs and thornbushes in areas studied by teams from University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, and on water sources monitored by United Nations hydrology programs. Nutritional ecology comparisons reference herbivore guilds including impala, bushbuck, and zebra.
Reproductive physiology and gestation data have been reported in veterinary literature from institutions such as Royal Veterinary College and Cornell University. Calving intervals and maternal behavior have been monitored in reserves managed by Rhino Conservation Botswana and scientific programs supported by the African Parks Network. Life history parameters are included in analyses by demographers at Princeton University and University of California, Davis addressing survivorship and population viability.
The black rhinoceros is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List due to poaching for horn trade driven by demand in markets documented by bodies like Interpol, World Customs Organization, and research by TRAFFIC. Threat actors include organized crime networks investigated in partnership with agencies such as Europol and national police forces in South Africa and Mozambique. Habitat loss from agricultural expansion and extractive industries involves corporations regulated under laws like the Convention on Biological Diversity commitments and environmental impact assessments overseen by institutions such as African Development Bank and World Bank.
Human cultural associations involve indigenous groups and modern stakeholders including ecotourism operators promoted by Lonely Planet and national ministries of tourism in Tanzania and Namibia. High-profile advocacy by celebrities working with Save the Rhino International and documentary coverage from broadcasters like the BBC and National Geographic have raised public awareness. Controversies over trophy hunting, community conservancies, and benefit-sharing involve legal frameworks from courts such as the Constitutional Court of South Africa and policy discussions at summits like the World Economic Forum.
Category:Rhinoceroses Category:Critically endangered species