Sumatran Rhinoceros/
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis:
Credit: Brent Huffman http://www.pathcom.com/~dhuffman/rhinosum.html
The Sumatran rhinoceros so has other names such as Asian two-horned rhinoceros as it is the only two-horned rhino in the Asian region. It is also called the Hairy rhinoceros as it bares long, shaggy hair found on the species in contrast to the other, hairless species.
Size: The Sumatran Species is roughly 0.9 - 1.5m (3 - 5 ft) tall at shoulder while the larger horn is about 25 - 79 cm (10 - 31 in).
Weight: The average weight of the species is about 600 - 800 kg (1,300 - 1,700 lbs).
Distribution:In the past, the Sumatran rhinoceros roamed all of South-East Asia from Assam though Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo in tropical rainforest and mountain moss forest. Now due to their decreasing numbers, they are only found in Indonesia.
Appearance: The smallest living rhinoceros, the Sumatran species sport a reddish-brown coat that is sparsely covered with long hair. This is more pronounced in younger animals. The leathery hideof the Sumatran rhinoceros is gray-brown in colour, and is folded into armour-like plates. Its body is relatively short and stocky, and the pillar-like legs are short.
For both sexes, two horns are found on the nose with the front horn growing larger than the rear. Males usually have larger horns than females. Additional characteristics of the species also include an upper lip that is hooked and prehensile, and fringed ears.
Behavior:
Solitary with the exception of females with claves, males only visit female territories to mate and form short term bonds with females. Both the males and females usually maintain permanent home ranges with the males having the larger ones. As boundaries of home ranges overlap, Sumatran rhinos occasionally meet, but they do not stay together for any considerable length of time.
The Sumatran rhinoceros is also well-known for its marking behavior. The animal marks it trails with feces, urine and soil scraps. The most common method of territorial marking is a scrape made by a single movement of the hind feet into the ground, resulting in a bare patch of soil. Feces are often deposited in the scrape and urine is sprayed and splashed over vegetation. This species also delimits its territory by twisting and breaking saplings, thus Sumatran rhinoceros often change directions when they encounter broken trees in their way. When disturbed or threatened by human encounters, the animals spray copiously with urine and defecate several times. The behavior serves to temporarily attract attention from the intruders to allow the travelling young to seek cover. If provoked, the Sumatran rhinoceros may become hostile and aggressive.
Known as an inexhaustible walker, it feeds before dawn and before sunset, and moves mostly by night. The Sumatran rhinoceros is also well adapted to water. During the day, the animal is often found in rain ponds or wallows that are dug out near streams. Wallows serve to cool the animal. In addition, the mud from the wallows prevents the animal's skin from cracking and drying.
The species is known to make patterned seasonal movements. It travels along hills when the lowlands are flooded, descending when the weather is cool and relatively dry, returning to high ground to escape summer insects, particularly horse flies.
Diet: A herbivore, the Sumatran rhinoceros feeds on fruit, leaves, twigs and bark. When feeding, the animal moves in a zig-zag fashion, sampling the potential food items in sight before it takes in mouthful quantities. Young saplings serve as the major food source and are systematically prepared for consumption; the young trees are bitten off, trampled upon, and then eaten.
In addition, the Sumatran rhinoceros also goes for food such as wild mangoes, bamboos. Besides that, the Sumatran Rhino gets minerals, mainly sodium and calcium, from drinking from salt springs. Adults usually consume about 50 kilograms of food daily. !!!
Reproduction: Both the male and female species become sexually mature at ages of 7 to 8. Due to their private habits, the mating period of this species is not known. However, it is well known that most births occur from October to May, the months of heaviest rainfall.
In addition, gestation period is estimated to be 12-16 months. At birth, the newborn is 60 cm high and 90 cm long, weighing approximately 25 kg. The coat of neonates is short, crisp and black, but later becomes long and shaggy. During the first few days after birth, the young is hidden in dense vegetation near salt licks while the mother browses. After two months, it can be found wandering with its mother. During earlier stages of development, the young may associate with one another, but they eventually become solitary. Weaning usually takes place at 16-17 months and interbirth intervals last at least 3-4 years.
Life Span: Life span approximately 32 years
Why is it endangered?: The original range of the species has drastically decreased due to habitat destruction by logging and clearing of land for agriculture. The species is also threatened by overhunting for the suppposedly aphrodisiac and medicinal products made from the horns and other body parts of the body. In addition, it is very sensitive to all forms of disturbances and is driven out by the slightest signs of intrusion. It is said to be one of the most endangered species on Earth.
Credit to: Brent Huffman http://www.pathcom.com/~dhuffman/rhinosum.html
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