rhinocer61d

[Eng. rhinocer(os); -oid.] Belonging to or characteristic of the genus Rhinoceros. (Nicholson: Palæœont., ii. 329.) rhi-noc-er-ös (The cla . pl. is rhi-noc-er-ōtēs, but the form rhi-noç'-er-ös-ěş is in ordinary use.), *ri-noç'-er-ös, *rhi-noc-er-ot, s. [Latin. from Gr. rhino keros : rhis (gen it. rhinos )=the nose, and keras a horn.] 1. Zoblogy : (1) The sole recent genus of the family Rhinocerot i dae (q. v.). It falls naturally into three sections, which some zoologists raise to the rank of genera. (a) Rhinoceros : Adults with a single large compre ed incisor above on each side, occasionally a small lateral one, below a very small median, and a very large procumbent, pointed, lateral incisor; nasal bone pointed in front; single nasal horn; skin very thick, and raised into strong, definitely arranged folds. There are two well-marked spe cies: (1) Rhinoceros unicorn is (Linnæus; indicus, Cuvier), now found wild only in the terai regions of Nepal and Bhotan and in A am, though it had formerly a much wider geographical range: (2) R. sondaicus (or javanus , Cuvier), the Javan Rhinoceros, is smaller and distinguished by the different arrangement of the folds of the skin, and by the small size or absence of the horn in the female. Found near Calcutta, in Burmah, Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, and probably Borneo. R. unicorn is was known to the ancients, and was seen probably for the first time by modern Europe ans when one was sent to the king of Portugal from India in 1513. (b) Ceratorhinus : The folds are not so strongly marked as in the first section. There is a well developed nasal, and a small frontal horn, separated by an interval. The name, R. sum at rens is , has po ibly been applied to more than one species, and two animals in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London, presented considerable differences of form and color. Dr. Sclater named one of them R. lasiotis , the Hairy-eared Rhinoceros. Geo same as that of the graphical range nearly the sar Javan Rhinoceros, but it does extend into Bengal. (c) Atelodus , with two well-marked species, peculiar to Africa. Incisors rudimentary or want ing, well-developed anterior and posterior horns in close contact; skin without definite permanent folds. R. bicorn is , the Common Two-horned Rhinoceros, is the smaller, and has a pointed prehensile lip. It ranges from Aby in i a to Cape Colony, but the progre of civilization and the attacks of sportsmen are rapidly reducing its numbers. Two varieties are said to exist, R. bicorn is major and R. bicorn is minor. Specimens in which the posterior horn has attained a length as great as or greater than the anterior have also been separated under the specific name of R. keitloa [KEITLOA], but with scarcely sufficient reason. R. sim us, Burchell's, the Square-mouthed, or White Rhinoceros, has a square truncated lip, browses on gra es and frequents open country. It is the largest of the family, an adult male standing over six feet at the shoulder. The epithet White is a misnomer, for the animal is a dingy slate-color. A local variety in which the horn has a forward rake is sometimes described as R. oswellii. (2) Any individual of the genus Rhinoceros ((1)]. The rhinoceros is the largest and most powerful terrestrial mammal, except the elephant, to which, as well as to the hippopotamus and tapir, it is allied. They are of low intelligence, and usually harmle , but when provoked they display considerable ferocity, and, though apparently so clumsily formed, can run with great speed. Only one is produced at a birth. The flesh is sometimes used for food; in the East Indies, the skin, which is said to be bullet-proof at short distances, is used for shields, and in South Africa it is made into whips. 2. Palæont .: R. pachygnathus , from the Miocene of Greece, was apparently intermediate between R. bicorn is and R. sim us . Four species, all bicorn, formerly inhabited Britain: R. tich or hin us, the Woolly Rhinoceros (q. v.), from the Brick-earths of the Thames Valley; R. hemitæchus (Falc., lep to rhinus, Owen), R. megarhinus ( lept or hin us , Cuvier & Falc.), and R. etruscus , of Pliocene age. The one horned Indian type was well represented (R. sivalensis, R. palæindicus ) in the Pleistocene of the sub-Him a lay an region. R. schleirmacheri , of the late European Miocenes, po e ed incisors and was bicorn. rhinoceros-beetle, s. Entom.: Oryctes rhinoceros, so called from a horn or protuberance on its head. [ORYCTES.]