Rhinoceroses are solitary animals preferring to live alone as opposed to herds. The bulls associate with females for mating purposes alone. They have a specific territory and there are tracks or runs through the territories. The black rhino bull marks its territory by dragging its feet through its dung, scattering it all over the place and urinating on bushes. They are extremely aggressive animals and will protect their territory by charging at intruders if startled. They will readily attack predators, including man. When attacking, they lower their head, striking intruders with their horns and snorting loudly.

Birds sometimes perch on the back of rhinoceroses, eating the ticks and other insects. In return the birds warn the rhinoceroses of danger. The most common birds to do this are red-billed ox-peckers.

Diet

The black rhinoceros is a browser, possessing a prehensile upper lip for drawing branches to its mouth. For this reason it is also referred to as the hook-lipped African rhinoceros. They usually feed at dawn and dusk, living on plant material, leaves and fruit, flowers, and also herbs. The rhinoceros is exclusively herbivorous.

Adaptations

The thick skin of the rhinoceros protects it from rough vegetation, and its horns protect it from attackers. The digits are webbed to increase the surface area of the foot and the upper lip has been modified to form a prehensile elongated lip to manoeuvre food.