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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 67
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 67 |
On a recent visit to the zoo, I came to know there are two African species of rhinoceros, the Black Rhino and the White Rhino, albeit minus the distinction in color that one would expect (both looked greyish to me.) I found an explanation at the relevant links of the following site: http://www.rhinos-irf.org/rhinoinformation/index.htm Common Names:
"White Rhinoceros: From the Afrikaans word describing its mouth: weit, meaning 'wide'; early English settlers in South Africa misinterpreted the 'weit' for 'white'."
"Black Rhinoceros: Not black at all, the Black Rhino probably derives its name as a distinction from the White Rhino (itself a misnomer) and/or from the dark-colored local soil covering its skin from wallowing." Also called the "Prehensile-Lipped Rhinoceros: The upper lip of the Black Rhino who is a browser is adapted for feeding from trees and shrubs and is the best distinguishing characteristic," and "Hook-Lipped Rhinoceros: also referring to the prehensile lip."
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
From the Afrikaans word describing its mouth: weit, meaning 'wide'
I often wondered about that. Thanks, anchita, for clearing it up!
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
The upper lip of the Black Rhino who is a browser is adapted for feeding from trees and shrubs
Interesting - I guess the wide lipped rhino browses on grass. Hadn't appreciated that distinction before.
Slight aside; when I drive through Richmond Park I notice that most of the tree canopies start at the same height from the ground. The height the deer can reach!
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 67
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 67 |
"I guess the wide lipped rhino browses on grass."
That's right. From the same site:
The White Rhino is a grazer, i.e., it consumes grass. Its wide, square upper lip is adapted for feeding on grasses."
Also, another name for the White Rhino is Square-lipped rhinoceros, as it lacks a prehensile 'hook.'
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Lovely animals, rhinos. The popular image is of bull rhinos charging unfortunate people in Landrovers in national parks, but I've spent a little bit of time with a rhino in a zoo, and they just luuurve being scratched behind the ear ...
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