With the names square-lipped rhinoceros and white rhinoceros people mean the same animal. To make it easier we only use the name white rhinoceros in this article.

Classification

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Species: Ceratotherium simum

Statistics

Weight male: 2000-2300 kg
Weight female: 1500 kg
Height: 1.65-1.80 m
Length: 3.40-3.80 m
Hornlenght: normally about 60 cm, but can be up to 1.50 m
Lifespan: 30-40 years
Gestation: 16 months

Identification

White rhinoceros in Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

There are five different species of rhinoceros and the white rhino is the largest. The white rhinoceros is larger but lighter than a hippo and after the elephant it is the largest land animal.

The name 'white' rhino is a misnomer from the South African word 'wijd', meaning 'wide'. The South africans call the rhinoceros like this because they have a very wide, square mouth. So it has nothing to do with the colour, in fact all rhinos are greyish or greyish brown in colour.

The white rhino is much bigger and heavier than the black rhino (double its weight at times) and is further distinguished by a large hump on the hind neck. The eyes of the white rhinoceros are small, the skin is bare with some plications and the tale is bare with a little 'brush'.

Habitat

There natural habitat is grassy savanna country with trees and water. Groups of females wander around over distances of 9-15 square kilometer. The areas of the groups can overlap and there is no territorial behaviour by the female rhinos. More then 5 animals can live at 1 km². This is possible because the white rhinoceros only eats grass.

Food

The white rhinos are grazers. There wide mouth is perfectly made for eating large amounts of short, green grass. They collect the grass with their lips.