What are some cool facts about white rhinos?
White rhinos are the second largest land mammal, after the African elephant. Male white rhinos can grow to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall and weigh up to 2,500 kg (5,500 lbs) – that’s the weight of 30 men! Despite their large size, the white rhino can run up to 40 km/h (25 mph) for short periods.
What are 3 interesting facts about rhinoceros?
Top 10 facts about rhinos
- There are 5 species of rhino…
- They’re HUGE.
- Black and white rhinos are both, in fact, grey.
- They’re called bulls and cows.
- Their horn is made from the same stuff as our fingernails.
- Rhinos have poor vision.
- Javan rhinos are only found in one small place.
What does a white rhino eat?
Herbivore; white rhinos are grazers, feeding entirely on grasses that they crop with their wide front lip. Their short legs, long head reaching almost to the ground, and wide mouth are used in combination with a side to side head movement to eat massive quantities of grass.
Why are white rhinos special?
Facts. White rhinos are the second-largest land mammal and their name comes from the Afrikaan’s, a West Germanic language, word “weit” which means wide and refers to the animal’s mouth. Also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros, white rhinos have a square upper lip with almost no hair.
Why do rhinos have horns?
It is known that rhinos use their horns for several behavioural functions, including defending territories, defending calves from other rhinos and predators, maternal care (including guiding calves) and foraging behaviour, such as digging for water and breaking branches.
How many horns does a rhinoceros have?
two horns
Both black and white rhinos have two horns, and while there are a number of visual characteristics that differentiate them, the easiest way is by looking at the shape of the mouth. As grazers, white rhinos have a square upper lip, while black rhinos, who are browsers, have a hooked upper lip.
Can rhinos jump?
Elephants are the only mammal that can’t jump But there are other mammals that can’t either, like sloths, hippos and rhinos. Although, unlike elephants, hippos and rhinos can have all four feet off the ground at the same time when they run.
How heavy can a rhino get?
A mature rhino typically stands about 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) high at the shoulder, has a length of 2.4–3.2 m (7 ft 10 in–10 ft 6 in) and weighs around 700 kg (1,500 lb), though the largest individuals have been known to weigh as much as 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb).
How long does a white rhino live?
40 – 50 years
White rhinoceros/Lifespan
Why are white rhinos called white?
White rhinoceros is taken from the Afrikaans word describing its mouth: “wyd”, meaning “wide”. Early English settlers misinterpreted the “wyd” for “white”. It is also sometimes called the square-lipped rhinoceros.
How long does a rhino live?
White rhinoceros: 40 – 50 years
Indian rhinoceros: 35 – 45 yearsBlack rhinoceros: 35 – 50 years
Rhinoceros/Lifespan
Can rhinos swim?
Greater one-horned rhinos can swim, and even dive underwater.
What are some interesting facts about rhinoceros?
Precious horns. Rhino horns are highly desirable and are treasured due to their horns that are cost more than gold in some parts of the world.
What is the reason that white rhinos are endangered?
White rhinos lose their habitat due to agriculture and settlements. Historically, uncontrolled hunting in the colonial era caused the major decline of white rhinos. Today, poaching for their horn is the main threat. The white rhino is particularly vulnerable to poaching because it is relatively unaggressive and lives in herds.
Why are northern white rhinos going extinct?
Northern white rhinos went extinct in the wild after years of extensive poaching for their valuable horns, which are used in traditional Asian medicine . The last wild northern white rhinos were killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2006.
What is the life cycle of a white rhino?
White rhinos can live to be 50 years of age. Gestation lasts approximately 16 months, and mothers give birth to one calf every 2-3 years. White rhinos are semi-social and territorial.