White Rhinoceros

Scientific Name and Meaning

Ceratotherium simum

Ceratotherium: Greek cerato, meaning “horn” and thorium, meaning “wild beast” simum: Greek simus, meaning “flat-nosed”

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Common Names

African white rhinoceros: Afrikaans word describing its mouth, weit, meaning “wide”

Square-lipped rhinoceros: lacking a prehensile “hook”

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Distribution and Habitat:

Southern and central Africa Long- and short-grass savannas

 

Size

1,800 to 2,200 kg (4,000 to 5,000 lb)

1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 ft) tall at shoulder

Primary horn

94 to 201 cm (37 to 79 in) southern subspecies, 94 to 102 cm (37 to 40 in) northern subspecies

Largest land mammal, after elephants, along with the greater one-horned rhino

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Physical Description

Neutral gray, almost hairless

Two horns

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Life History Characteristics

Grazer

Semi-social and territorial: females and subadults rarely solitary; bulls typically solitary, though satellite males may reside within the territory of the dominant bull

Females sexually mature at five to six years in the wild; males at ten to 12 years Gestation period approximately 16 months; interbirth interval of two to three years