Distinguishing features
The white rhinoceros is the largest of the five species of rhinoceros and the world's largest land mammal after the three species of elephant. It has a massive body and large head, a short neck and broad chest.
On its snout it has two horn-like growths, one behind the other. These are made of solid keratin, in which they differ from the horns of bovids, which are keratin with a bony core, and deer antlers, which are solid bone. The front horn is larger and averages 90 cm in length, reaching as much as 150 cm.
The white rhinoceros also has a noticeable hump on the back of its neck. Each of the four stumpy feet has three toes. The color of the body ranges from yellowish brown to slate grey.
Its only hair is the ear fringes and tail bristles. White rhinos have a distinctive broad, straight mouth which is used for grazing. Its ears can move independently to pick up sounds but it depends most of all on smell. The olfactory passages which are responsible for smell are larger than their entire brain. The white rhinoceros has the widest set nostrils of any land based animal. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Distribution
©IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: White Rhinoceros range
Distribution and habitat preferences
There are two subspecies of white rhinos; the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) and the northern white rhinoceros. South Africa is the stronghold for the southern subspecies. There are smaller reintroduced populations within the historical range of the species in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, while a small population survives in Mozambique.
Populations have also been introduced outside of the former range of the species to Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
White rhinoceroses are found in grassland and savannah habitat. (Wikipedia)
Diet
They are herbivore grazers that eat grass, preferring the shortest grains. They drink twice a day if water is available, but if conditions are dry they can live four or five days without water. They spend about half of the day eating.
