Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros

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Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Dicerorhinus
Species:	D. sumatrensis
Subspecies:	D. s. harrissoni

Trinomial name

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni
Groves, 1965

The Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros also known as the Asian Two-Horned Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni) is a critically endangered subspecies of Sumatran Rhino. Once was widespread throughout Borneo its numbers have shrank to around 50 rhinos due to poaching and habitat loss and now is only living in Sabah.

1 Description
2 Behavior and Ecology
3 Population and Threats
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Description

Their size ranges from 600-950 kg, a height of 1-1.5 meters and a bodylength of 2-3 m. It has reddish brown hair that can go from scarce to dense. The rhino has fringed ears and wrinkles around its eyes. The calves have much denser hair which becomes more scarce and red as it grows older. Like the Black Rhino it has a prehensile lip. Difference between the western subspecies of sumatran rhinoceros is only difference in genetics.

[edit] Behavior and Ecology

A solitary animal that lives in dense rainforest, and swamps. Usaully feeding at dusk and bathes in mud during the day. They eat around 50 kg of food a day and gain minerals from salt licks. Very good swimmers and can manuvere well on steep slopes. The rhinos mark their territorty with scrapings, bent saplings and scent marks.

[edit] Population and Threats

By the start of the 1900's it was common throughout its range of Borneo. But the Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros population has declined dramaticly, reduced to only 50 indivuals. Now can only be found in Sabah and possibly an unconfirmed population in Sarawak and in Kalimantan. Due to the loss of habitat (rainforest) and because of poaching for its horn its numbers are so severely low.