Lydekker, R., 1911. An African rhinoceros, klipspringer and gazelle. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1911 June 13: 958-960, figs. 192-193
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Taxonomy |
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Black Rhino |
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Mr Drake-Brockman presented to the British museum two skulls of the Somali Rhinoceros. This affords an opportunity to consider whether that entitled to rank as a distinct local race of the black species. Sportsmen, I am told, almost invariably regard it in that light; and Mr Ward informs me that such heads as he has mounted indicate a relatively small animal, with horns inferior to those of the Eastern and Southern rhinos, and a skin with a somewhat different epidermal structure.
The Somali rhinoceros already has a name, as it is referred to by Count Joseph Potocki on p.82 of his work entitled Sport in Somaliland, London 1900, as Rhinoceros bicornis somaliensis; and although no description was published, the accompanying plates render the name valid.
Of the two skulls presented by Drake-Brockman, one is a subadult with the whole of the permanent dentition in use, and almost perfect, although the tip of the premaxillae is broken off. The other is considerably more imperfect, is a younger animal, with upper premolars only just coming into wear.
Compared to a skull from East Africa (BM 7.2.26.1) of somewhat greater age, the Somali ones are seen to differ by the narrower form of the whole upper surface, both at the interparietal constriction and at the orbital expansion. The boss for the front horn is also much less expanded in the Somali skulls, and there is less convexity in the region immediately behind this. Moreover, the palate is more decidedly vaulted in the Somali than in the East African skull. The differences in dimensions can be seen from this:
Somali East African
Length of upper aspect 22 1/4 23
Breath at orbits 11 9 1/5
Palatal length 21 ? 20 3/4
Zygomatic width 14 1/4 11 3/4
Length of upper tooth-row (excl. P.1) 10 ? 10 1/4
Width of m.2 2 ? 2 1/4
The Somali animal may thus stand as Rhinoceros bicornis somaliensis Potocki; the specimen here described occupying the position of type. It may be added that if the east African and Somali skulls were of the same age, the difference in lengths of the upper toothrow would be greater.
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An African rhinoceros, klipspringer and gazelle
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