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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum:  Chordata
Class:     Mammalia
Order:    Perissodactyla
Family:   Rhinocerotidae
Genus:   Dicerorhinus
Species: D. sumatrensis
Binomial name : Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

PHSICAL CHARACTERISTICS


The rhinoceros is a large, primitive-looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago.A mature Sumatran Rhino weighs 500–800 kilograms (1100–1760 lb),It has two horns typically only 15–25 cm (6–10 in).The males have larger horns than the females,Two thick folds of skin encircle the body behind the front legs and before the hind legs.Hair can range from dense (the most dense hair in young calves) to scarce and is usually a reddish brown.The rhino has a patch of long hair around the ears and a thick clump of hair at the end of the tail.


HABITAT:

The Sumatran Rhinoceros lives in both lowland and highland secondary rainforest, swamps and cloud forests.It inhabits hilly areas close to water, particularly steep upper valleys with a lot of undergrowth.

DISTRIBUTION:

The sumartran Rhinoceros found in Burma,eastern India,cambodia,Laos,vietnam.

DIET:

The Sumatran Rhino is a browser and has a diet of young saplings, leaves, fruits, twigs and shoots. Most feeding occurs just before nightfall and in the morning. The diet of the Sumatran Rhinoceros is high in fiber and only moderate in protein.

REPRODUCTION: 

Females become sexually mature at the age of 6–7 years, while males become sexually mature at about 10 years old.Sexual relationships begin with a courtship period characterized by increased vocalization, tail raising, urination and increased physical contact, with both male and female using their snouts to bump the other in the head and genitals. 

COMMUNICATION:

 Observations of the species in zoos show the animal almost constantly vocalizing and it is known to do so in the wild as well.The Sumatran Rhinoceros is the most vocal of the rhinoceros species.This twisting behavior is believed to be used as a form of communication.

ENDAGERED SPECIES:

The sumatran rhino was listed as endagered species on  12 May,1998.

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Labels: zoology

 Kingdom:    Animalia
 Phylum:     Chordata

 Class          Mammalia
 Order:        Perissodactyla
 Family        Rhinocerotidae
 Genus:       Rhinoceros
 Species:     R. sondaicus
 Binomial name: Rhinoceros sondaicus


PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

 It has one horn and prominent folds in the skin, similar to the Indian rhino. The horn grows onto a roughened area of the skull.The Javan rhinoceros ("rhino") weighs 1500 - 2000 kg (3200 - 4400 lb) and has a length of 3 - 3.5 m (10 - 11').The Javan rhino is hairless except for its ears and tail tip. Its thick gray skin is divided by deep folds to make a "saddle" over the neck.

CRITICALLY ENDAGERED:

The Javan Rhino is the rarest of the rhino species with fewer than 50 animals surviving in only two known locations: one in Indonesia (approximately 37-44 animals) and the other in Vietnam (fewer than four individuals). In Indonesia, Javan rhinos live only in Java’s Ujung Kulon National Park,

GESTATION PERIOD: 

The mothers probably give birth to one calf every 1-3 years. 

SEXUAL MATURITY: 

Females reach sexual maturity between 5 and 7 years of age; males mature at approximately 10 years of age.

DIET:

The Javan rhino appears to be a more adaptable feeder than other extant rhino species: in the tropical rain forest where the species now survives, it is a pure browser, but possibly was a mixed feeder (both browse and grass) in other parts of its historic range where the species is generally believed to have occupied more lowland areas, especially along watercourses. 

HABITAT:

The Javan Rhino primarily inhabits dense lowland rain forests, tall grass and reed beds that are plentiful with rivers, large floodplains, or wet areas with many mud wallows. Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broad leaf Forests

DISTRIBUTION: 
Western Indonesia, Eastern Indochina This map shows the distribution of javan rhino.

                                                     

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Labels: zoology

Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:         Mammalia
Order:         Artiodactyla
Family:       Bovidae 
Subfamily:  Carprinae
Genus:        Ovis
Species:     Ovis aries


EVOLUTION:


The mouflon is thought to be one of two original ancestors of all modern day sheep. It originated on the islands of Corsica, Sardina, and Cyprus, but has recently been introduced in much of Europe. Like most wild sheep


PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:


It has a red-brown color with a dark area along its back, and lighter colored side patches. Its underparts are white as well as the bottom half of their legs. It has a white muzzle and white circles around its eyes.The curved, spiral horns are usually around 25 inches in length and are arch back over its head. The mouflon's horns don't flare out at the end as most wild sheep's do. The size of a male mouflon's horns determine his status in the group.

A mouflon is about the size of a medium sheep with a weight range of 55-120 pounds. They are 4-5 feet long, and stand about 2-4 feet tall at the shoulders. They have a rough coat, and during the winter grow a woolly under coat that keeps them warm.

DIET:

The mouflon's diet is tough. Being a herbivore, it grazes on short grasses, heather, and shrubs. It has a multi-chambered stomach with special microbes that break down the cellulose of the plant cell walls. After it has eaten its fill, the mouflon will lie down somewhere, and regurgitate its food, chewing it a second time to soften it some more. It then swallows it again for the last time.

HABITAT:

the mouflon lives in mountainous terrain, usually above the tree line or in mountain meadows. In Corsica it lives on steep-sided rocky peaks, where it is protected from predators.

REPRODUCTION:

The males and females live in separate groups and only come together during mating season. The ewes will usually have the better foraging grounds because their health is more important for reproduction. Mouflon mate, or go through a rut, in late autumn to early winter. The rams' dominance is determined by his age and the size of his horns. They will crash their horns together to re-enforce dominance. The ewes don't mate until they are about 2-3 years old. Males don't mate until they are about 7 years old because they have to establish a strong social standing before being allowed to mate with a female.


GESTATION PERIOD:


The ewes are pregnant 210 days and can give birth to either one, or twin lambs. The ewe will go into cover to have her lamb which is up on its feet within minutes after birth.

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Labels: zoology