HOME | DD

Description
Since 22 September is World Rhino Day I decided to draw one of those animals, though I seem slightly late. Still, managed to finish a drawing of a Sumatran rhinoceros in its rainforest home on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, along with some other organisms of its habitat. Namely, a Sumatran ground cuckoo is standing in the foreground where there is also a huge titan arum flower in full bloom and attracting flies.

Also known as the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the smallest extant species of rhinoceros, but growing around 3 meters long and with a shoulder height of 1.1 to 1.5 meters it is still a large animal. Unlike the other Asian rhino species which have one horn, the Sumatran has two like the African rhinos, although those of the Sumatran are much smaller than the horns of Africa's white or black rhinos. It is also the hairiest extant rhinoceros, with a thin layer of fur on its body unlike the mostly bare skin of other rhinos, which is shaggier in captive individuals (possibly due to less abrasion with rainforest vegetation). Historical records and fossil remains show that this species first evolved in the early Pleistocene and once ranged across the forests and swamps of south and southeast Asia, but today its range is much narrower and is found only in dense rainforests on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is possible that some individuals survived in continental Asia and Borneo but this is unconfirmed. The once widespread animal is now critically endangered, with less than 100 wild individuals alive and under threat from deforestation and illegal hunting for their horns. Rhino horn is quite a commodity and sells for a lot and is a main threat to all rhino species. The very limited population also means the species is at risk of inbreeding depression.

Like other rainforests, the rainforest of Sumatra is very biodiverse yet many species are greatly endangered due to habitat loss from logging. The Sumatran ground cuckoo (Carpococcyx viridis) is a rather large cuckoo growing around 55 centimeters long and found only on the island, but unlike more familiar European cuckoos, this one does not roost high in trees much but mostly forages on the ground for small reptiles and insects. Unfortunately this green bird is among the most critically endangered birds, with its population numbering at 50 to 249 individuals and the number is probably dropping, and the bird is threatened mainly by deforestation and also getting caught in snare traps meant for other animals since it's a ground forager.

Native plants are also threatened like the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), a flowering plants known for its huge flowers that can grow 3 meters tall. The frequency of the blooming of its flowers is rather erratic and while some bloom every 2 years, others can take up to ten, and the flowers tend to wilt within 1 or 2 days of blooming. During this brief time the flower emits a scent similar to rotting flesh, which attracts flies that pollinate it and has earned it the nickname "corpse flower" (which is also sometimes used for Rafflesia flowers). Wild plants of this species are found only on Sumatra and this is an endangered species threatened by logging, though it is also cultivated in botanical gardens across the planet.

Description
Since 22 September is World Rhino Day I decided to draw one of those animals, though I seem slightly late. Still, managed to finish a drawing of a Sumatran rhinoceros in its rainforest home on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, along with some other organisms of its habitat. Namely, a Sumatran ground cuckoo is standing in the foreground where there is also a huge titan arum flower in full bloom and attracting flies.

Also known as the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the smallest extant species of rhinoceros, but growing around 3 meters long and with a shoulder height of 1.1 to 1.5 meters it is still a large animal. Unlike the other Asian rhino species which have one horn, the Sumatran has two like the African rhinos, although those of the Sumatran are much smaller than the horns of Africa's white or black rhinos. It is also the hairiest extant rhinoceros, with a thin layer of fur on its body unlike the mostly bare skin of other rhinos, which is shaggier in captive individuals (possibly due to less abrasion with rainforest vegetation). Historical records and fossil remains show that this species first evolved in the early Pleistocene and once ranged across the forests and swamps of south and southeast Asia, but today its range is much narrower and is found only in dense rainforests on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is possible that some individuals survived in continental Asia and Borneo but this is unconfirmed. The once widespread animal is now critically endangered, with less than 100 wild individuals alive and under threat from deforestation and illegal hunting for their horns. Rhino horn is quite a commodity and sells for a lot and is a main threat to all rhino species. The very limited population also means the species is at risk of inbreeding depression.

Like other rainforests, the rainforest of Sumatra is very biodiverse yet many species are greatly endangered due to habitat loss from logging. The Sumatran ground cuckoo (Carpococcyx viridis) is a rather large cuckoo growing around 55 centimeters long and found only on the island, but unlike more familiar European cuckoos, this one does not roost high in trees much but mostly forages on the ground for small reptiles and insects. Unfortunately this green bird is among the most critically endangered birds, with its population numbering at 50 to 249 individuals and the number is probably dropping, and the bird is threatened mainly by deforestation and also getting caught in snare traps meant for other animals since it's a ground forager.

Native plants are also threatened like the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), a flowering plants known for its huge flowers that can grow 3 meters tall. The frequency of the blooming of its flowers is rather erratic and while some bloom every 2 years, others can take up to ten, and the flowers tend to wilt within 1 or 2 days of blooming. During this brief time the flower emits a scent similar to rotting flesh, which attracts flies that pollinate it and has earned it the nickname "corpse flower" (which is also sometimes used for Rafflesia flowers). Wild plants of this species are found only on Sumatra and this is an endangered species threatened by logging, though it is also cultivated in botanical gardens across the planet.