Lydekker, R., 1905. The Singpho rhinoceros. Field, the country gentleman's magazine 106 (2743), 1905 July 22: 152
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Myanmar (Burma) |
| Subject: |
Taxonomy - Nomenclature |
| Species: |
Sumatran Rhino |
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Some months ago I was informed by a Gentleman, then recently returned from Upper Burma, that, according to native reports, there exists in the Singpho country a rhinoceros of larger size than either the two-horned Rh. sumatrensis or the single-horned R. sondaicus. For this animal, according to my informant, the natives have a name distinct from those which they apply respectively to the two species last named, and they further describe it as being of huge size, comparing it in this respect with an elephant. Now the Singpho country, which is the area marked in the Times Atlas as the district inhabited by the Kachins or Singphos (Kakhyens) is the tract lying on the headwaters of the chindwin River, this being separated by the N.E. extremity of the Assam valley only by the Naga hills and the Patkai range. Consequently the suggestion naturally arises that the Singpho rhinoceros may be a representative of the great Indian Rh. unicornis. That the Singpho animal is not absolutely identical with the Assam rhino is practically certain when it is borne in mind that the latter is a plain-dwelling species and that the mountain barrier between the Assam and Chindwin valleys is of very considerable height.
Having occasion evidence for another purpose to the 3rd (1889) edition of Mr. Rowland Ward's records of Big Game, I noticed, under the heading of the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, the entry of a horn from 'Singpho', Burma, belonging to Sir C.A. Elliot, the specimen measuring 19 in. in length and 18 in. in girth. From the 4th edition of Mr. Ward's book, it may be mentioned the entry in question has been omitted, probably for the reason that in revising the proofs, the editor thought there must be an error in recording Rh. unicornis from Burma. The Singpho horn, it may be added, accords much better in dimernsions with that of the Great Indian species than with those either of the other Asiatic rhinoceroses, and indicates a large animal.
Upon obtaining this information, I wrote to Sir Charles Elliott, who, in reply, informed me that when in Sadiya, the extreme N.E. station of Assam, in the winter of 1882-1883, or thereabouts, he heard that a very fine rhinoceros horn had been brought down to the Bazaar by some Singpho for sale. This specimen, together with a smaller horn, was purchased by Sir Charles, the former being mounted as a trophy, and the latter made into an inkstand. The owner informs me that there is every reason for believing the two horns to have been derived from one and the same animal. If this be so, it is practically certian that the Singpho rhinoceros cannot be identical with the Great indian species, despite of the story current in Assam that the latter, when very old, will sometimes grow a second horn.
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The Singpho rhinoceros
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