1. Courtship and Display:
- During the mating season, male black rhinos engage in courtship behavior to attract females. They engage in display behaviors such as sparring with other males, vocalizations, and the production of scent marking from glands located on their feet.
2. Mating Ritual:
- When a male rhinoceros locates a receptive female, he approaches her with a series of ritualized behaviors. This includes sniffing, pawing the ground, and vocalizing.
3. Mounting and Copulation:
- Once the female is receptive, the male black rhinoceros mounts her from the back. He firmly grabs the skin of the female's shoulders with his teeth, establishing a secure hold.
- The male's penis is long and rigid, and it can be as long as two feet (60 cm). It is also equipped with small spines that may provide stimulation to the female during the mating process.
- The male inserts his penis into the female's reproductive tract, and ejaculation occurs. Copulation typically lasts for a few minutes.
4. Post-Copulation Behavior:
- Following mating, the male black rhinoceros may stay close to the female for a period of time to prevent other males from mating with her.
- The female rhinoceros may show aggression towards the male after mating, and the male typically retreats to avoid conflict.
- The gestation period for black rhinoceroses is about 15-16 months, after which the female typically gives birth to a single calf.
- Black rhinos have relatively low reproductive rates, and females only produce a calf every two to four years.