The south-central black rhinoceros (''Diceros bicornis minor''), also known as the south-central hook-lipped rhinoceros or the lesser black rhino, is a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of the
black rhinoceros. In keeping with the rules of zoological nomenclature, the south-central black rhinoceros should be known as ''Diceros bicornis keitloa'' (Smith, 1836), a
nomen novum
In biological nomenclature, a ''nomen novum'' (Latin for "new name"), new replacement name (or replacement name, new substitute name, substitute name) is a scientific name that is created specifically to replace another scientific name, but only w ...
.
[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.]
Although it is the most numerous of the black rhino subspecies, it is nevertheless designated as critically endangered on the
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
’s red list. Like other black rhino subspecies, it has a prehensile lip and lives in
savanna habitat.
Range
The south-central black rhinoceros once ranged from western and southern
Tanzania, through
Malawi,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe, and
Mozambique, all the way to northern and eastern
South Africa. It is also thought to have inhabited the southern part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as northern
Angola and eastern
Botswana. Today, however, its population stronghold is in northeastern South Africa, and to a lesser extent in Zimbabwe, with even smaller numbers in
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
. At one time, the south-central black rhino had disappeared from Malawi,
Botswana, and Zambia, but it has since been reintroduced into those countries. Whether there are any in Mozambique is uncertain, but at least one specimen has been seen there since 2008.
[
]
Population and threats
Over the last 50 years, the south-central black rhino population has declined by 90%. It was at 9,090 in 1980, but by 1995, due to a wave of illegal poaching for their horns, their numbers had decreased to 1,300. Their population then began to rebound somewhat. By 2001, it had increased to 1,651, and by 2010 it was about 2,200 (with 1,684 of these in South Africa, 431 in Zimbabwe, and a few specimens in other countries). At present the number is increasing overall, but decreasing regionally (in Zimbabwe). The main threat to the subspecies is illegal poaching, which has increased in recent years.[
]
Notes
External links
International Rhino Fund
dedicated to the conservation of rhinos
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1422500
Rhinoceroses
Mammals of South Africa
Mammals of Zimbabwe
Mammals of Botswana
Mammals of Angola
Mammals of Zambia
Critically endangered fauna of Africa
Mammals described in 1876