Biology 1st Edition by Jerome Krueger, Kendra Hill, Robert Noyd

Exercise 15

The black rhino is an endangered species and is often part of captive breeding programs ( Fig. ). Rearing rhinoceros calves requires knowledge of their nutritional requirements such as the composition of their milk, which varies greatly among mammalian species, depending on habitat. The rhinoceros, for example, lives in hot African grasslands. In contrast, reindeer live in freezing habitats near the Arctic Circle. Task: Compare the milk of these two mammals ( Table ) and predict which milk is made by the rhinoceros and which is made by the reindeer. Which milk provides the most calories? Which animal drinks a greater amount of milk daily? Explain your answer by connecting milk composition to habitat.
Figure Feeding an orphaned black rhinoceros.

Table Milk Composition