Black Rhinoceros (Rhino) Diceros bicornis

The pre-historic-looking Black Rhinoceros (Rhino) is native to eastern and central Africa. It is classed as critically endangered. It has a mouth that narrows to a point and a hooked, "prehensile" upper lip for feeding on shrubs and foliage (unlike the White Rhino, which has a wide mouth for grazing grass).

The White and the Black Rhinos, both grey-coloured although the Black Rhino is sometimes also brownish, have two horns. They have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and smell.

Male and female are of similar appearance but males (above row) are heavier with larger horns than females (top right). An adult is some 6 feet tall at the shoulder.

The endangered Eastern subspecies of Black Rhino is shown here. The Western Black Rhino is thought to be now extinct; the South-western and Southern Central subspecies are also endangered, mainly by poachers of horns.

Gathering nesting material?! The hooked upper lip for eating leaves and twigs can be seen.