 Reference Base  The wild animals of the Indian Empire and the problem of ... |
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Prater, S.H., 1934. The wild animals of the Indian Empire and the problem of their preservation, part II. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 37 (1) Supplement: 57-96, pls. 15-36
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World |
| Subject: |
Morphology - Horn |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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All the living rhinoceroses are included in a single genus. Their massive build, the thickness and solidity of their bones, their short stumpy legs each furnished with three toes are some of the family characters. The skin in all the living forms is either thinly clad with hair or naked and in all the Indian species the heay hide in places is thrown into deep folds. The nasal bones are enlarged to serve as a support for a single or double horns. When two horns are present they are situated one behind the other in the middle line of the snout. The horn is formed of a closely matted mass of horny fibre issuing from the skin. It has no connection with the skull, although a supporting boss of bone in the skull may serve as its foundation. The horns grow throughout life and if lost are reproduced.
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