Critter Science

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of the 3 Asiatic rhino species. They are also listed as Critically Endangered, due to habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change (drought) , as recorded by the IUCN. These rhinos go by the names of hairy rhinos and Asian 2-horned rhinos. Sumatran rhinos like areas of tropical rainforests with foothills, on the Indonesian island of the Kalimantan province of Borneo and Sumatra. Unfortunately, their species is dwindling more and more each year.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Weight: Up to Up to 1,760+ lbs. Length: Up to 8.2+ feet Height: Up to 4.76+ feet, at the shoulders Lifespan: Up to 40 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) These rhinoceroses eat leaves, twigs, bark, and fruit from various plants.

2.) They typically dine at dawn and dusk, making them crepuscular .

3.) They mark their territory with urine, feces (poop), and soil clumps. These serve as visual as well as olfactory signs for other rhinos.

4.) Besides physical communication, they also communicate via whistling, eeps, whining noises, and waling.

5.) Unlike other Asian rhinos , these critters have 2 horns. They have a larger anterior horn, located towards the tip of their nose and a smaller posterior horn, located between their eyes.

But wait, there’s more on the Sumatran rhinoceros! 6.) The Sumatran loves to wallow in mud, pretty much all day. The mud helps to keep them cool during the hot days.

7.) Males are polygynous (mate with multiple females).

Did you know…? The closest relative is the extinct Woolly rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis). The Sumatran rhino is the only living member of a primitive group of rhinos, called the Dicerorhinini which lived in the Miocene period (15 – 20 million years ago).

8.) Females birth a single calf roughly every 3 – 4 years.

9.) Gestation (pregnancy) lasts between 12 – 16 months.

10.) Calves typically stay with their mother till they are 2 – 3 years old. They reach maturity by 7 – 8 years old.

But wait, there’s still more on the Sumatran rhinoceros! 11.) Sumatrans are typically solitary, except for females with their calf and during mating season, when the female is in oestrous (heat).

12.) These rhinos typically roam about at night, when it’s cool; making them not only crepuscular, but nocturnal as well.

13.) Like all rhinos, their horns are made up of keratin, like our hair and fingernails.

14.) Eating up to 110 lbs. of food a day comes easy to these wonderful animals.

Now a Short Sumatran Rhinoceros Video!

Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel . Videos added frequently!

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Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here ! toolTips('.classtoolTips3','

These animals are active during dawn and dusk, or twilight. Animals that are crepuscular are typically so due to the fact that many predators are not active during those times of the day. But as in the case of being diurnal or nocturnal, sometimes the organism is crepuscular in an effort to obtain food that might be present at these times. Mule deer , desert cottontails , coyotes , porcupines , and black-tailed jackrabbits , to name a few, fit into this category.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips14','

Gestation is the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth. In other words, pregnancy.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips18','

Organisms that are nocturnal are active at night. Animals that fit into this category are typically prey animals that rely on the cover of darkness as a defense. Granted, there are no shortage of predators at night. Some organisms adopt a nocturnal lifestyle due to climate issues. Many desert dwelling animals are nocturnal as it is simply cooler outside at night. Aardvarks , badgers , bandicoots , and aye-ayes are just some examples of nocturnal creatures.');

critically endangered

The Critically Endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros

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