Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Rhinocerotidae Scientific Name : Ceratotherium simum Size : 3.4 - 4.2m (11 - 14ft) Weight : 1,440- 3,600kg (3,168 - 7,920lbs) Top Speed : 42km/h (30mph) Life Span : 45km/h (50mph) Colour : Brown, Grey, Black Skin Type : Leather Special Features : Hard, thick skin and two large horns
- Found in the grasslands of Africa, the White Rhinoceros is the largest of rhinos.
- The White Rhino is not white but its colour ranges from brown to grey.
- They have a bulky body, square upper lip, a shoulder hump and 2 horns.
- Although they are heavy, they are quite agile and can run very fast.
- Being strictly herbivorous, White Rhinos are extremely picky eaters and eat only grass.
- White Rhinoceros can live for about 45 – 50 years on an average.
- Females mature sexually around 4 – 5 years and males around 10 – 12 years.
- Their horns are made up of a protein called keratin and are in demand.
- They are highly territorial and mark their territories with piles of dung.
- They are social animals, living in groups called herds of about 14 individuals.
- Gestation period is about 16 months and usually a single calf is born.
- Calves stay close to their mothers for about 2 years until they become independent.
- White Rhinoceroses like to wallow in muddy waters to keep themselves cool.
- The muddy coating also acts as an insect repellent and as a sunscreen.
- They are usually active at dawn and dusk, sheltering from the sun during daytime.
- They have very poor eyesight and rely on their sense of hearing and smell.
- They communicate with each other through bellows, squeals, snorts, grunts, growls and panting calls.