Eastern Black Rhinoceros
| Eastern Black Rhinoceros | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Rhinocerotidae |
| Genus: | Diceros |
| Species: | D. bicornis |
| Subspecies: | D. b. michaeli |
| Trinomial name | |
| Diceros bicornis michaeli Zukowsky, 1965 |
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The Eastern Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) is also known as the East African Black Rhinoceros. It is a subspecies of the Black Rhino. Its numbers are very low due to poaching for its horn and it is listed as critically endangered.
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[edit] Description
The Eastern Black Rhino is distinguishable from the southern subspecies as it has a longer, leaner, and more curved horn. Its skin is also very grooved. Diceros bicornis michaeli is also reportedly more aggressive than the other three subspecies of Black Rhino. They are browsers and are usually found in highland forest and savanna habitat.
[edit] Population and threats
Once located in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, now they can only be found in Kenya (86.3 % of the remaining population survives here) and in northern Tanzania. The population has declined 90% in the last three generations and their population is stable only in Kenya. In 2008 their numbers were estimated at 700 rhinos in the wild.[1] They are threatened mainly from illegal poaching for their horns.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Emslie, R. (2011). "Diceros bicornis ssp. michaeli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/39230. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
[edit] Resources
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/39320/summ
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/39320/doc
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/39320/dist
http://www.rhinos-irf.org/rhinoinformation/blackrhino/subspecies/eastern.htm
[edit] External links
- http://www.rhinos-irf.org/ (International Rhino Fund dedicated to the conservation of rhinos)
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Wikispecies has information related to: Diceros bicornis michaeli |
