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Sumatran Rhinoceros
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
39.1452, -84.5083
Field Notes
Description:
"The Sumatran rhinoceros is not your ordinary rhino. Forest-dwelling with woolly red hair and quite petite (for a rhino), the Sumatran rhino uses its prehensile upper lip to browse on vegetation. It is also the world’s most endangered rhino, suffering from deforestation and poaching for its horn, which some Asian cultures believe has medicinal properties. Conservation efforts are critical to the survival of the species.
The Sumatran rhino has two horns, which are made of tightly packed hair-like fibers.
Rhino ears are large and cup-shaped to funnel sound, and rotate in different directions to help pinpoint the source.
The rhino’s sense of smell is so important that its nose takes up more space than its brain.
Since rhinos can’t sweat, they wallow in mud to cool down. Mud also protects the rhino from biting insects and keeps the skin healthy and smooth (well, smooth for a rhino anyway)."
Habitat:
Tropical rainforest and mountain moss forest
Notes:
It was wonderful getting to see the world’s most endangered rhino at the Cincinnati Zoo!
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