South-central black rhinoceros

The south-central black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor) or south-central hook-lipped rhinoceros is a subspecies of the black rhinoceros. In line with the rules of zoological nomenclature, the South-central black rhinoceros should be known as Diceros bicornis keitloa (Smith, 1836), a nomen novum.[3] Although it was the most numerous of the black rhino subspecies it is still listed as critically endangered by the IUCN red list. Like other black rhino subspecies it has a prehensile lip and lives in savanna habitat.

South-central black rhinoceros
South-central black rhinoceros at the Ngorongoro Crater
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Diceros
Species:
D. bicornis
Subspecies:
D. b. minor
Trinomial name
Diceros bicornis minor
(Drummond, 1876) [2]

Range

It once ranged from western and southern Tanzania through Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to the northern and eastern parts of South Africa. It also probably occurred in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Angola, and eastern Botswana. Today its stronghold population is in northeastern South Africa, a lesser extent of Zimbabwe, and smaller numbers remaining in Swaziland. The south-central black rhino was extinct in but has been reintroduced to Malawi, Botswana, and Zambia. Its status in Mozambique is uncertain; at least one specimen has been seen there since 2008.[1]

Population and threats

The south-central black rhino population was at 9,090 in 1980 but due to a wave of illegal poaching for its horn their numbers decreased to 1,300 in 1995. In 2001 the population stood at 1,651. This has raised to about 2,200 in 2010, with 1,684 in South Africa, 431 in Zimbabwe and a few specimens in the other countries. Over the last 50 years they have experienced a 90% decline in numbers. At present the number is overall increasing, though decreasing regionally (Zimbabwe). Threats toward the subspecies is mainly illegal poaching. The amount of poaching has increased in recent years.[1]

Notes
  1. Emslie, R. (2020). "Diceros bicornis ssp. minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T39321A152729173. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T39321A152729173.en. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. Drummond, Hon. W. H. (January 1876). "5. On the African Rhinoceroses". Journal of Zoology. 44 (1): 109–114. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1876.tb02546.x.
  3. Rookmaaker, K., 2016. The correct name of the South-central black rhinoceros is Diceros bicornis keitloa (A. Smith, 1836). African zoology, 51(2), pp.117-119.
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