Cumming, D., 1987. Zimbabwe and the conservation of black rhino. Zimbabwe Science News 21 (5/6): 59-62, figs. 1-3
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World |
| Subject: |
Taxonomy - Evolution |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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The rhinoceroses belong to the odd toed ungulates or Perissodactyla in which Order are also included the horses and tapirs. Rhinoceroses first appeared in the Oligocene some 30 million years ago. The earliest deposits containing remains of the living species of African rhino date back some 3 to 4 million years. During the period 18 to 8 million years ago there were seven genera of rhino in Africa with about 12 species in all. Towards the end of the Miocene era (5m years ago) all but two genera, Diceros and Ceratotherium, became extinct. So in Africa we now have two species in two genera, namely, the black rhinoceros, or hook lipped rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhinoceros, or square lipped rhinoceros, (Ceratotherium simum). There are a further three species of rhino in India and south east Asia all equally endangered and numbering less than 2 500 individuals.
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Zimbabwe and the conservation of black rhino
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