Petrus Camper’s Study of the Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Sondaicus) and its Influence on Georges Cuvier

Abstract

It has been asserted that Petrus Camper (1722-1789) was the first to distinguish the Javan Rhinoceros as a separate species. This opinion is based on a cursory remark in a posthumously published letter to the Russian scientist Peter Simon Pallas. A careful analysis of Camper’s numerous writings on the rhinoceros, both published and unpublished, has produced not the slightest confirmation of this taxonomic achievement. Therefore, it seems premature to label Camper as the discoverer of the Javan Rhinoceros. As Georges Cuvier made ample use of the material collected by Camper, we have also discussed its influence on Cuvier’s ideas with respect to rhinoceros classification.

Rhinoceros sondaicus (Perissodactyla: Rhinocerotidae)

“…Bontius (1596Bontius ( -1631 was a physician and naturalist and best known for his discovery of beriberi in Asia, later determined to be caused by a vitamin B 1 deficiency. He died 27 years before the publication of his natural history work in Java (Bontius 1658), and the editor, G. Piso, added the illustration shown here in Fig. 2b (Rookmaaker and Visser 1982). The similarity between Dü rer's illustration, clearly of a stylized Indian rhinoceros, and that in Bontius (1658) is striking (Clarke 1986), particularly the shape of the dermal shields, horn, and posture.…”

“…Another captive specimen, called the ''Liverpool Rhinoceros,'' experienced a similar identity crisis from the 1830s (Reynolds 43(887)-Rhinoceros sondaicus MAMMALIAN SPECIES 191 1960) until Rookmaaker (1993) concluded it was R. unicornis not R. sondaicus. Our early perceptions of general characters of R. sondaicus had a curious evolution in science and art (Clarke 1986;Cole 1953;Rookmaaker and Visser 1982). As early as Roman times (Cole 1953), rhinoceroses were imported and held captive in Europe (Rookmaaker 1998).…”

Avoiding the lockdown: Morphological facilitation of transversal chewing movements in mammals

“…shows an elongated oval form in the cross-section; there is visible abrasion on the upper incisor, causing a crescent-shape tooth form, caused by the tusk-like lower second incisor during the lateral mandible movement required for molar grinding (Rookmaaker & Visser, 1982).…”

“…Another group of animals in which this can be observed are the Asian rhinoceroses that have retained one upper and one or two lower incisors (Figure 7 ). The first upper incisor of the greater one‐horned rhino ( Rhinoceros unicornis ) shows an elongated oval form in the cross‐section; there is visible abrasion on the upper incisor, causing a crescent‐shape tooth form, caused by the tusk‐like lower second incisor during the lateral mandible movement required for molar grinding (Rookmaaker & Visser, 1982 ).…”