 Reference Base  Suspected calcium oxalate raphide irritation in a black r... |
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Wood, P.A.; Foggin, D.C.; Naude, T.W., 1997. Suspected calcium oxalate raphide irritation in a black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) due to ingestion of Xanthosoma mafaffa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 68 (1): 2
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Food |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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South Africa. The black rhinoceros is known to browse extensively on several of the highly irritant, latex-containing Euphorbia spp. such as E. virosa in Namibia and E. ingens and E. grandicornuta in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (G Hughes and D Cooper, Natal Parks Board, pers. com 1996) without any apparent damage the buccal mucous membrane. Domestic ruminants and man, in contrast, are severely affected if they attempt to eat these plants or even have skin contact with the latex. It is, therefore, extraordinary that a relatively much less irritating plant like X. mafaffa would have such a clearly irritating effect in this species.
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