javan rhinoceros
javan rhinoceros Lexical Profile
• noun
A critically endangered species of rhinoceros native to Southeast Asia, currently restricted to a single surviving population in Ujung Kulon National Park on the Indonesian island of Java, characterized by a single horn (usually only visible in males) and deeply folded armor-like skin.
"Conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the Javan rhinoceros from the immediate threats of disease and habitat loss."
Word Nuance & Usage
The Javan rhinoceros is one of the rarest large mammals on Earth; it should not be confused with the closely related Indian rhinoceros or the two-horned Sumatran rhinoceros.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'Javan' refers to the Indonesian island of Java, its primary remaining habitat. 'Rhinoceros' derives from the Greek 'rhinokerōs', formed from 'rhis' (nose) and 'keras' (horn).