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Anderson, J.L., 1966. Tooth replacement and dentition of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis Linn). Lammergeyer 6: 41-46, pls. 1-2, figs. 1-2, tables A-B

  details
 
Location: Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa
Subject: Morphology - Skull
Species: Black Rhino


Original text on this topic:
Diceros bicornis - South Africa. Within the collection, three of the specimens have two pairs of lower incisors, two animals being calves (H 40 and H 888), the other a fourteen-month-old male (H 11). A further two skulls have one pair of incisors in the lower jaw, on a mature animal (H 29) and the other from a well developed foetus (H 101). These incisors are not the chisel-like incisors found in the Asian rhino, but are simple cylindrical teeth with a closed root. The largest incisors were from the mature animal (H 29), and measured 22.7 mm. in length and 4.9 mm. in diameter.
Flower (1876) recorded rudimentary incisors in both jaws of a young black rhino from Abyssinia. He mentions that these incisors, if ever present, disappear soon after birth. Because of their size, it is highly unlikely that these incisors protrude through the gums, and certainly do not assist in browsing. Perhaps those present in calves could be of some use in suckling.

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