The southern white rhinoceros or southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros (the other being the much rarer northern white rhinoceros). It is the most common and widespread subspecies of rhinoceros.
A document published by CITES in 2021, found the estimated total population of Southern White Rhino in 2021 to be 15,940 individuals,[2] a decline of 24% since the previous census published in 2015. South Africa remains a stronghold for this subspecies, conserving an estimated 12,968 individuals[3] as of 2021, down 20.22% since the previous census.[4]
The southern white rhinoceros is the nominate subspecies; it was given the scientific name Ceratotherium simum simum by the EnglishexplorerWilliam John Burchell in the 1810s. The subspecies is also known as Burchell's rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum burchellii) after Burchell and Oswell's rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum oswellii) after William Cotton Oswell, respectively. However, these are considered synonyms of its original scientific name.
Ceratotherium simum kiaboaba (or Rhinoceros kiaboaba), also known as straight-horned rhinoceros, was proposed as a different subspecies (or species) found near Lake Ngami and north of the Kalahari desert. However, it is now considered part of the southern white rhinoceros.
Following the phylogenetic species concept, research in 2010 suggested the southern and northern white rhinoceros may be different species, rather than subspecies, in which case the correct scientific name for the northern subspecies is Ceratotherium cottoni and the southern subspecies should be known as simply Ceratotherium simum. Distinct morphological and genetic differences suggest the two proposed species have been separated for at least a million years.[5]
Physical descriptions
A southern white rhino mother with calf in Namibia.
The southern white rhinoceros is one of largest and heaviest land animals in the world. It has an immense body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. Females weigh around 1,700 kg (3,750 lb) and males around 2,300 kg (5,070 lb).[6] The head-and-body length is 3.4–4 m (11.2–13.1 ft) and a shoulder height of 160–186 cm (5.25–6.10 ft).[6] It has two horns on its snout. The front horn is larger than the other horn and averages 60 cm (24 in) in length and can reach 150 cm (59 in).[7] Females usually have longer but thinner horns than the males, who have larger but shorter ones. The southern white rhinoceros also has a prominent muscular hump that supports its large head. The colour of this animal can range from yellowish brown to slate grey. Most of its body hair is found on the ear fringes and tail bristles, with the rest distributed sparsely over the rest of the body. The southern white rhino has a distinctive flat, broad mouth that is used for grazing.Southern white rhinos are strictly herbivores (graminivores) that feed on short grasses.
Mating and reproduction
Little is known about Southern White Rhinoceros mating habits,but females reproduce every 2-3 years.They give birth to a single calf after the gestation period that lasts around 16 months. Newborn calves weigh about 45 kg (100 pounds) at birth. Young usually become independent in 2-3 years. .
The southern white rhino lives in the grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands of southern Africa, ranging from South Africa to Zambia. About 98.5% of southern white rhino live in just five countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda.
The southern white rhino was nearly extinct in the early 20th century, with less than 20 individuals in a single South African reserve. The small population of white rhinoceros slowly recovered over the years, growing to 840 individuals in the 1960s and to 1,000 in the 1980s. White rhino trophy hunting was legalized and regulated in 1968, and after initial miscalculations is now generally seen to have assisted in the species' recovery by providing incentives for landowners to boost rhino populations.[8] In 2001, it was estimated that there were 11,670 white rhinos in the wild of southern Africa with a further 777 individuals in captivity worldwide, making it the most common rhinoceros in the world. By the end of 2007, wild-living southern white rhinos had increased to an estimated 17,480 animals. In 2015, there was an estimated population of 19,682–21,077 in the wild.[4]
The southern white rhinoceros is listed as Near Threatened; it is mostly threatened by habitat loss, continuous poaching in recent years, and the high illegal demand for rhino horn for commercial purposes and use in traditional Chinese medicine.[1]
In 2010, nine southern white rhinoceros were imported from South Africa and shipped to the Yunnan province from southeast China where they were kept in an animal wildlife park for acclimation. In March 2013, seven of the animals were shipped to the Laiyanghe National Forest Park, a habitat where Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros once lived.[11] Two of the southern white rhinos began the process of being released into the wild on May 13, 2014.[12]
In captivity
Wild-caught southern white rhinoceros will readily breed in captivity given appropriate amounts of space and food, as well as the presence of other female rhinos of breeding age. Many rhinoceros living in zoos today are a part of a cooperative breeding program to increase population numbers and maintain genetic diversity without pulling individuals from the wild.[13] For instance, 96 calves have been born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 1972. However, the rate of reproduction is fairly low among captive-born southern white females, potentially due to their diet. Ongoing research through San Diego Zoo Global is hoping to not only focus on this, but also on identifying other captive species that are possibly affected and developing new diets and feeding practices aimed at enhancing fertility.[14] When managed correctly the rate of natural reproduction among captive-born southern white females is relatively good as can be seen by the success of John Frederik Hume's rhino breeding initiative, which currently has an average of 200 natural births per year[15] and has seen more than 1800 natural births[16] since 1993.[17] In South Africa a population of southern white rhinos are being raised on farms and ranches for their horns along with the black rhino.[18]
References
^ abcEmslie, R. (2020). "Ceratotherium simum ssp. simum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T39317A45814320. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T39317A45814320.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2017). "Species Survival Plans".
^San Diego Zoo Global Public Relations (2017). "Rhino Born Thanks to Science".
^Radio Interview (2021). "White Rhino CBO on The Joyride".
^Getaway Magazine (2021). "North West breeder aims to rewild 100 rhinos annually".
^"Our Story". rhinos.mobi. 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"Can farming rhinos for their horns save the species?". The Daily Telegraph. November 11, 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
Notes
^Ceratotherium simum simum populations of South Africa and Eswatini are included in Appendix II for the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies.
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Ceratotherium simum simum.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ceratotherium simum simum.
January 24, 2023
southern, white, rhinoceros, southern, white, rhinoceros, southern, white, rhino, ceratotherium, simum, simum, subspecies, white, rhinoceros, other, being, much, rarer, northern, white, rhinoceros, most, common, widespread, subspecies, rhinoceros, southern, wh. The southern white rhinoceros or southern white rhino Ceratotherium simum simum is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros the other being the much rarer northern white rhinoceros It is the most common and widespread subspecies of rhinoceros Southern white rhinocerosA southern white rhinoceros in Pilanesberg National Park South AfricaConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 1 note 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder PerissodactylaFamily RhinocerotidaeGenus CeratotheriumSpecies C simumSubspecies C s simumTrinomial nameCeratotherium simum simum Burchell 1817 Southern white rhino distribution range according to the IUCN Extant Resident Extant and reintroduced Resident Extant and assisted colonisation Resident Presence uncertain amp assisted colonisationSynonymsCeratotherium simum burchellii Desmarest 1822 Ceratotherium simum oswellii Elliot 1847 Ceratotherium simum kiaboaba Murray 1866 A document published by CITES in 2021 found the estimated total population of Southern White Rhino in 2021 to be 15 940 individuals 2 a decline of 24 since the previous census published in 2015 South Africa remains a stronghold for this subspecies conserving an estimated 12 968 individuals 3 as of 2021 down 20 22 since the previous census 4 Contents 1 Taxonomic and evolutionary history 2 Physical descriptions 3 Mating and reproduction 4 Habitat and distribution 5 Threats 6 Conservation status 6 1 Introduction reintroduction projects 6 2 In captivity 7 References 8 Notes 9 External linksTaxonomic and evolutionary history EditThe southern white rhinoceros is the nominate subspecies it was given the scientific name Ceratotherium simum simum by the English explorer William John Burchell in the 1810s The subspecies is also known as Burchell s rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum burchellii after Burchell and Oswell s rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum oswellii after William Cotton Oswell respectively However these are considered synonyms of its original scientific name Ceratotherium simum kiaboaba or Rhinoceros kiaboaba also known as straight horned rhinoceros was proposed as a different subspecies or species found near Lake Ngami and north of the Kalahari desert However it is now considered part of the southern white rhinoceros Following the phylogenetic species concept research in 2010 suggested the southern and northern white rhinoceros may be different species rather than subspecies in which case the correct scientific name for the northern subspecies is Ceratotherium cottoni and the southern subspecies should be known as simply Ceratotherium simum Distinct morphological and genetic differences suggest the two proposed species have been separated for at least a million years 5 Physical descriptions Edit A southern white rhino mother with calf in Namibia The southern white rhinoceros is one of largest and heaviest land animals in the world It has an immense body and large head a short neck and broad chest Females weigh around 1 700 kg 3 750 lb and males around 2 300 kg 5 070 lb 6 The head and body length is 3 4 4 m 11 2 13 1 ft and a shoulder height of 160 186 cm 5 25 6 10 ft 6 It has two horns on its snout The front horn is larger than the other horn and averages 60 cm 24 in in length and can reach 150 cm 59 in 7 Females usually have longer but thinner horns than the males who have larger but shorter ones The southern white rhinoceros also has a prominent muscular hump that supports its large head The colour of this animal can range from yellowish brown to slate grey Most of its body hair is found on the ear fringes and tail bristles with the rest distributed sparsely over the rest of the body The southern white rhino has a distinctive flat broad mouth that is used for grazing Southern white rhinos are strictly herbivores graminivores that feed on short grasses Mating and reproduction EditLittle is known about Southern White Rhinoceros mating habits but females reproduce every 2 3 years They give birth to a single calf after the gestation period that lasts around 16 months Newborn calves weigh about 45 kg 100 pounds at birth Young usually become independent in 2 3 years Habitat and distribution Edit A southern white rhino pair at Mosi oa Tunya National Park Zambia The southern white rhino lives in the grasslands savannahs and shrublands of southern Africa ranging from South Africa to Zambia About 98 5 of southern white rhino live in just five countries South Africa Namibia Zimbabwe Kenya and Uganda The southern white rhino was nearly extinct in the early 20th century with less than 20 individuals in a single South African reserve The small population of white rhinoceros slowly recovered over the years growing to 840 individuals in the 1960s and to 1 000 in the 1980s White rhino trophy hunting was legalized and regulated in 1968 and after initial miscalculations is now generally seen to have assisted in the species recovery by providing incentives for landowners to boost rhino populations 8 In 2001 it was estimated that there were 11 670 white rhinos in the wild of southern Africa with a further 777 individuals in captivity worldwide making it the most common rhinoceros in the world By the end of 2007 wild living southern white rhinos had increased to an estimated 17 480 animals In 2015 there was an estimated population of 19 682 21 077 in the wild 4 Threats Edit Taxidermied specimen Royal Ontario Museum The southern white rhinoceros is listed as Near Threatened it is mostly threatened by habitat loss continuous poaching in recent years and the high illegal demand for rhino horn for commercial purposes and use in traditional Chinese medicine 1 Conservation status EditIntroduction reintroduction projects Edit A southern white rhinoceros crash in Lake Nakuru Kenya A captive southern white rhinoceros in Bioparc Valencia Valencia Spain There are smaller reintroduced populations within the historical range of the southern white rhinoceros in Namibia Botswana Zimbabwe Eswatini Zambia and in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo while a small population survives in Mozambique Populations have also been introduced outside of the former range of the species to Kenya Uganda and Zambia where their northernmost relatives used to occur 9 The southern white rhinoceros have been reintroduced in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda 10 and in the Lake Nakuru National Park and the Kigio Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya In 2010 nine southern white rhinoceros were imported from South Africa and shipped to the Yunnan province from southeast China where they were kept in an animal wildlife park for acclimation In March 2013 seven of the animals were shipped to the Laiyanghe National Forest Park a habitat where Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros once lived 11 Two of the southern white rhinos began the process of being released into the wild on May 13 2014 12 In captivity Edit Wild caught southern white rhinoceros will readily breed in captivity given appropriate amounts of space and food as well as the presence of other female rhinos of breeding age Many rhinoceros living in zoos today are a part of a cooperative breeding program to increase population numbers and maintain genetic diversity without pulling individuals from the wild 13 For instance 96 calves have been born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 1972 However the rate of reproduction is fairly low among captive born southern white females potentially due to their diet Ongoing research through San Diego Zoo Global is hoping to not only focus on this but also on identifying other captive species that are possibly affected and developing new diets and feeding practices aimed at enhancing fertility 14 When managed correctly the rate of natural reproduction among captive born southern white females is relatively good as can be seen by the success of John Frederik Hume s rhino breeding initiative which currently has an average of 200 natural births per year 15 and has seen more than 1800 natural births 16 since 1993 17 In South Africa a population of southern white rhinos are being raised on farms and ranches for their horns along with the black rhino 18 References Edit a b c Emslie R 2020 Ceratotherium simum ssp simum IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T39317A45814320 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 1 RLTS T39317A45814320 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 CITES 2021 CoP19 Doc 75 PDF a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help CITES 2021 CoP19 Doc 75 PDF a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Rhino population figures SaveTheRhino org 2015 Retrieved 16 May 2015 Groves C P Fernando P Robovsky J 2010 The Sixth Rhino A Taxonomic Re Assessment of the Critically Endangered Northern White Rhinoceros PLOS ONE 5 4 e9703 Bibcode 2010PLoSO 5 9703G doi 10 1371 journal pone 0009703 PMC 2850923 PMID 20383328 a b Macdonald D 2001 The New Encyclopedia of Mammals Oxford University Press Oxford ISBN 0198508239 Heller E 1913 The white rhinoceros Smithsonian Misc Coll 61 1 Michael t Sas Rolfes Saving African Rhinos A Market Success Story PDF Retrieved 27 September 2015 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Emslie R amp Brooks M 1999 African Rhino Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group IUCN Gland Switzerland and Cambridge UK ISBN 2 8317 0502 9 Lutalo Eric 14 May 2017 Ziwa sanctuary where rhinos have a lease of life www rhinofund org Retrieved 2019 05 15 Patrick Scally Rhinos reintroduced to Yunnan GoKunming com 2013 04 02 Chinese 13 中央电视台新闻频道 新闻直播间 云南普洱 白犀牛今天进行 2014 05 13 Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2017 Species Survival Plans San Diego Zoo Global Public Relations 2017 Rhino Born Thanks to Science Radio Interview 2021 White Rhino CBO on The Joyride Getaway Magazine 2021 North West breeder aims to rewild 100 rhinos annually Our Story rhinos mobi 2022 Retrieved 28 August 2022 Can farming rhinos for their horns save the species The Daily Telegraph November 11 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2018 Notes Edit Ceratotherium simum simum populations of South Africa and Eswatini are included in Appendix II for the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies External links Edit Wikispecies has information related to Ceratotherium simum simum Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ceratotherium simum simum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern white rhinoceros amp oldid 1128841560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
