rhinoceros

(also ‘rhino’) {plural – the same spelling ‘rhinoceros’, or ‘rhinoceroses’, ‘rhinoceri’ or ‘rhinoceroi’}

a kind of animal – mammal – four-legged – grass-eating – diurnal (= active during day) – pachyderm (= with thick skin) – large with brown or grey body colour, large head with medium-sized straight ears shaped like a leaf, small eyes, long large snout (= mouth and nose part) with one or two horn-like growth, short thick neck, massive barrel-like body, stumpy (short and stout) legs with three toes on each foot, 2-3 feet long thin tail with bristles at the tip; size: (depending on the species) 4-6 feet tall at the shoulder, 10-14 feet long, and weight: from 700 Kg. to 3 tons (3,000 Kg.); feeds on (eats) grasses, and plant matter; lives for 35-40 years (some individuals live up to 60 years); 5 species, found in parts of Africa and Asia

male ~~ bull

female ~~ cow

baby ~~ calf

group ~~ crash; herd

voice (call) ~~ growl, grunt, squeak, snort, bellow

The five spices of rhinos are:

two species in Africa – white rhinoceros and black rhinoceros

Three species in Asia – greater one-horned (or Indian) rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros and Sumatran rhinoceros

Both African species (black and white rhino) and the Sumatran rhino have two horns; Indian or greater one-horned rhinoceros and the Javan rhinoceros have only one horn.

Special Features:

Rhinoceroses are the second largest land mammals, only next to the elephant.

The most significant feature of a rhino is its horn.  A rhino’s horn is not a true horn – not a bone – it is thick matted hair made of a substance that is found in people’s nails and hair.  Some animal experts believe that the rhino’s horn is the source of inspiration for creating a mythical creature called ‘unicorn’ – a horse-like animal with one long horn on its forehead!

This harmless feature is the major factor for the drastic decline in the numbers of the rhino population because, in some Asian cultures, it is believed that the powder of the rhino horn not only cures all diseases but also improves a man’s sexual performance, which, according to the scientists, is a false belief – just a myth.

In addition, the horn is also used in ornamental carvings, and as the handles of daggers worn by men, which, in countries like Yemen, an Arab country on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, has become a status symbol.  As a result, the horn was once in such great demand that a pair was sold for $ 50,000 on the black the market!!

Though the rhino is a bulky animal with short legs, it can run (rather dash) at  high speed.

Rhinoceroses have poor eye-sight, i.e. they cannot see things well, but they have very good sense of smell and hearing!

[Language Usage:  The word “white” in the ‘white rhinoceros’ does not refer to the colour of the animal, but to the mouth which is wide.  The word ‘white’, in this context, is derived from the Dutch word “weit” which means ‘wide’ in English; in the pronunciation, however, it has taken the sound of ‘white’!]

The Javan rhino is the rarest and most endangered large mammal in the world – it is on the verge of extinction, i.e. it is going to die out completely, without a single animal alive  on the earth!

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest rhino in the world, and is the rhino with the most hair!  The other species of rhinoceros have very little hair on the body, with some visible hair on the edges of the ears and on the tip of the tail!

[The ‘rhinoceros beetle’, one of the largest beetles, an insect, is named so because of the ‘horns’ the males have, which they use to fight with the other males during mating season!]

Figures of Speech:

(a)  have a rhinoceros hide

(b)  to have a hide like a rhinoceros

[said of an insensitive (= not have any soft or relevant feeling), rough person who is not affected by insult or criticism (from the fact that the rhino has very thick skin)]

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