Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis): habitat and range

Fun facts

Its name says nothing about its colour: it is the same shade of grey as the white rhinoceros.
It uses its prehensile upper lip to strip leaves, twigs and woody shrubs.
Its horn, made of keratin, is prized by the illegal trade — the main threat to its survival.
anatomíaUnlike the white rhinoceros, it has a pointed, prehensile upper lip adapted for stripping leaves and twigs rather than grazing short grass.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat and environment: Open grassland, sparse thorn scrub, savannah, dense bush and dry woodland, including montane forest and high-altitude moorland
Birth weight: 27-45 kg at birth
Size at birth: 27-45 kg at birth
Sexual maturity: Male: 6-10 years | Female: 4-7 years
Gestation / incubation: ~450-510 days (15-17 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 calf per birth, with 2.5-3 years between births
Life expectancy in captivity: Documented record of up to 44 years and 9 months

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; Rhino Resource Center; Britannica; Save the Rhino International; SDZWA Fact Sheet (Black Rhinoceros)

Where to find it

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Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 18.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Black Rhinoceros — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Same taxonomic family

Shares a park

How to help

The black rhinoceros is classified as critically endangered. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

It's documented in 10 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.

Black Rhinoceros