Rhinoceros sondaicus (Desmarest, 1822)
INTRODUCTION
The Javan (or Lesser One-horned) Rhinoceros is considered to be the rarest large mammal species in the world.9,14 The rhino is a dusky grey colour with a single horn; the skin has a number of loose folds giving the appearance of armour plating. This species is very similar in appearance to the closely related Great Indian Rhinoceros, but is slightly smaller, with a much smaller head and less developed folds of skin on the neck.9 Recent evidence suggests that the horn may be absent in females.3 Other than mating pairs and mothers with young, the species is solitary in habit.9 Javan Rhinos favour dense rainforest with a good supply of water and plentiful mud wallows; low-lying areas are preferred, although some animals have been recorded above 1,000 m.9 The diet consists mainly of leaves, young shoots, twigs and fallen fruit.2
Female rhinos occupy overlapping home ranges of about 2.5 to 13.5 km2; this rises to 21 km2 in males. Females become sexually mature between the age of three and four. There is no defined mating season and the gestation period is about 16 months. The single offspring is active soon after birth, being suckled by the mother for at least one and perhaps two years.2,9 Mature females are thought not to breed more often than every fourth or fifth year.9
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