“The Rhinoceros” (1515) by Albrecht Dürer.Ĭlose observers will notice that Dürer’s rhinoceros broadly resembles what an actual rhinoceros looks like. Take a look at Dürer’s rendition of the rhinoceros: Unfortunately, the rhinoceros died on its way to Rome, so little remains of the actual animal except for the brief description and sketch that Dürer used to create his famous woodcut. This is the rhinoceros that captured Dürer’s imagination.
Manuel I, the King of Portugal, had recently established Portugal’s first colony in India and offered an Indian rhinoceros to Pope Leo X as a gift.
In the early 16th century, as Europeans had started to explore the world beyond the Mediterranean Sea, they came in contact with a great many creatures that few, if any, Europeans had ever heard of. This is precisely what happened when the artist and engraver Albrecht Dürer drew what he imagined a rhinoceros to look like when he first read a description in 1515. Based on my description, how accurate do you think the image of the rhinoceros in your head would be? If I asked you to draw what you’re imagining, what would it look like? And what if we sent that drawing to a bunch of other people who have never seen a rhinoceros? Now, imagine that you’ve never seen a rhinoceros, and I tried to describe to you what a rhinoceros looks like. Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), near Narayani River, Chitwan Community Forest buffer zone, NepalĬharles J. You’re probably picturing a large four-legged animal with gray, tough skin, and a prominent horn on its snout. Regardless of whether or not you’ve ever personally seen one, you’ve likely seen enough photographs or television shows to know what a rhinoceros looks like. These tough and well-armored beetles live for 2-3 years, though the females die soon after reproduction.Try to imagine what a rhinoceros looks like. Adult beetles eat significantly less frequently than their larvae, and certainly much less than their size may suggest. The adults eat plant nectar, sap, and fruits. After that, the larvae pupate in some species they emerge as fully formed adults, while in some, they emerge as nymphs and undergo several further stages, called instars, to reach adulthood. These beetles have a very long larval stage, sometimes extending to more than 3 years. Life Cycleįemale rhinoceros beetles lay around 50 eggs (may differ between species).
For comparison, the difference in wing size was only 2%. The horns in the beetles without the gene were 16% smaller than the horns on the beetles who could use the IGF pathway. To test this idea, the scientists disabled the gene that activated the IGF pathway in these beetles. IGFs are responsible for growth in most complex organisms, and their levels rely on nutrition. This is due to the fact that tissues in the horn are much more sensitive to insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) than elsewhere in the body. This is why the horn has evolved to be so important in mating displays. Only the males have the horns, which are used in fights between rival males and sometimes for digging underground.Īccording to a study published in the journal Science, the length of the horn is directly related to the state of nutrition experienced by the male beetle while growing up. The horn-like appendage is undoubtedly the most conspicuous physical characteristic of rhinoceros beetles and is the source of their name. This is a warning sign if the beetle is persistently disturbed. Some rhino beetles can produce a hissing sound by rubbing their front wings against their abdomens. For this reason, they stay under logs or in the dark undergrowth to keep away from their few predators. Because of their size, most rhinoceros beetles are not good fliers, and instead, rely on camouflage to stay safe. As mentioned before, their front wings form a protective covering for their rear wings. Rhino beetles are covered in a hard sheath. These beetles are also exceptionally strong, with the Hercules beetle having been observed to lift 850 times its own body weight. Many rhinoceros beetles are more than 3-4 inches long, and can weigh up to 30-40 grams.
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