Indian One horned Rhinoceros - Central Zoo Authority

One horned rhinoceros: Biology and Status
Taxonomy of One horned rhinoceros
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perrisodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis
Species Authority: Linnaeus 1758
Common Name/s: Gainda (Hindi)
Based on their large body sizes (>1000kg) and diet, Elephantidae (elephants),
Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceroses), Hippopotamidae (hippopotamus) and Giraffidae
(giraffes) comprise the four major families of mega-herbivores. Rhinocerotidae along
with Equidae (horses) and Tapiridae (tapirs) each feature an odd number of toes with
the middle toe being bigger. These families are a part of the order Perissodactyla
(uneven-toed ungulates). The systematic relationships between rhinoceros species
have been inferred using morphological, behavioural, geographical and, to a lesser
degree, genetic data. The living Rhinocerotidae includes four genera that encompass
five species and eleven subspecies.
There are two African species, each within a monotypic genus: the white rhinoceros
(Ceratotherium simum) and the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). The remaining two
rhinoceros genera include three Asian rhino species: the Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis),
Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Recent
studies dispute whether or not the Assam and Nepalese Indian rhino populations
represent two distinct subspecies. The Indian rhinoceros is larger than the Javan
rhinoceros, these two species are grouped into the single Rhinoceros genus based on a
combination of geography, similar morphologic characteristics and feeding habits and
inhabit a variety of habitats ranging from dense lowland forests to open flood-plains.
Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA data, also support the grouping of
the Javan and Indian rhinos into a single genus.
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