 Reference Base  The Zoological Society (The death of two rhinoceroses; me... |
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Pocock, R.I., 1912. The Zoological Society (The death of two rhinoceroses; measurements of Indian rhinoceroses; some characters of rhinoceroses; the King's collection of Indian animals). Field 119 (3082), 20 January 1912: 143, figs. 1-5
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| Location: |
Captive - Europe |
| Subject: |
Morphology - Size |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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Male in London Zoo, 31 years old. The dimensions of this animal after death were as follows:
Height at withers, 5 ft 10 ? inch
Height at croup, 6 ft ? inch
The height being taken between two upright broomsticks tangential to the spine and the soles of the feet.
In Ward's Records of Big game the height of 4 specimens shot by the Maharajah of Cooch Behar and presumably measured in the same way, are given as 6 ft 6 in., 6 - 4 ?, 6 - 1 and 6 - ?. Thus our specimen was somewhat below the average. But I am quite convinced he never stood that height when alive. By the scale on the central bar of his cage I formerly judged him to be roughly 5ft 6 in and I think the difference may be easily accounted for by the ?sagging' of the joints of his legs and the flattening of the soles of his feet under his great weight when standing. If this be so, it shows that post-mortem measurements of these huge beasts may give quite an exaggerated idea of their height when alive.
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