Brain Smaller Than Nostrils
© Rina Abdul Jamal
Rhinoceros might not need that amount of memory and such an abundance of brain cells for that matter. They will just need most the cells to process their sense of smell. The fact that their olfactory passages or nasal passages are larger than their brains says a lot about their smelling ability. Their highly developed sense of smell is actually important for their survival. It is used to identify other rhinoceros, keep track of their calves and keep predators at bay. You may stand about 100 feet away motionless and they would not be able to see you with their small eyes - they can see clearly for only up to 30 feet away. But if you smell, then you are in a big trouble.
In addition to their great big nose, they can detect sound very well and will sometimes charge at any unfamiliar sound or smell. When they do, their short and stumpy legs will deceive you because with their short legs, they can run up to 45km per hour in short distances. Pretty speedy considering the weight they have to carry.
Rhinoceros make up the family Rhinocerotidae. Their ancestors appeared about 54, million years during the Eocene epoch, which makes up the Cenozoic era. Even though the rhinoceros family was widespread in ancient time, there are only five species left in this modern time.
Modern Time Rhinoceros Species
The Indian Rhinoceros - Rhinoceros unicornis
The Javan Rhinoceros - Rhinoceros sondaicus
The Sumatran Rhinoceros - Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
The African Black Rhinoceros - Diceros bicornis
The African White Rhinoceros - Ceratotherium simum
Rhinoceros generally inhabit the savannas, shrubby regions and dense forests due to their meal preferences of grass, bushes and trees. The African species usually inhabits a more open area than the Asian species. Given their names, at least for some species, you might be surprised of their actual colours. This is because the colours range from grey to red depending on the mud they wallow in each day.
Rhinoceros use their horns to shovel the ground, fight for territory and for defensive purposes. Of the five species, only the Javan and the Indian species have a single horn. An interesting note, rhinoceros horns are not actually horns but a mass of keratin and gelatin growing out from the skin of the nose. According to Endangered In The Wild : Africa, the number of rhinoceros decline dramatically during the 1970s due to the soaring price of oil. Young men of the Arab country of Yemen sought after the horns to make elaborately-carved dagger handles, of which, being the symbols of wealth and status in that country. Apart from that, the horns are also used to make traditional medicines such as an aphrodisiac, fever-reducing remedy and poison-detecting potion even if there is no scientific proof of their alleged effectiveness.
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