The largest rhino living to date of the five species is the White Rhino. Males can even reach a weight of over 2 tons! This weight is exceeded only by the African Elephant and some Hippopotamuses. Males, on the other hand, are slightly smaller, which makes their weight also lower, reaching about 1.7 tons. Females are usually about 4 meters long and up to 1.8 meters high.
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Information
Long body build but quite low height to a body weight result of about 2 tons is really an amazing and impressive result!
The feature that distinguishes the White Rhinoceros from other species is the two horn growths that grow one behind the other on the rectangular head of this mammal. The front horn, reaching a length of up to 1.5 meters, is found only in females. Their body has no hair, but is covered with a very thick layer of skin, which to the naked eye resembles an incredibly thick, indestructible armor that protects these animals from everyday harm that they may encounter while living in the wild. The only hair that we can see on the body of a rhino is the hair that grows over its ears, and we can also see it at the end of its tail.
The White Rhinoceros, otherwise known as the Broadbill, is a grazing species with very wide lips that allow it to grab a large amount of grass at one time. Because of this, his head is positioned a little lower to make it easier for him to grab whatever is growing on the ground. In turn his cousin called Narrow-mouthed has his head placed a little higher, he must reach into the trees because he feeds only on leaves. For this reason it has very sharply pointed lips with which it can precisely capture leaves.
In rhinos, pregnancy lasts as long as 16 months. A calf right after birth can weigh up to 65 kilograms! This is definitely the weight of an adult female, amazing! For the first months of its life, the young feeds on its mother's milk and does not leave her until it is about 3 years old. After that time when the female decides to get pregnant again and makes it clear, usually the youngster already starts to become independent.
Trivia
- Five Species: There are five different species of rhinoceros: white, black, Indian, Javanese and Sumatran. Each has unique characteristics and habitats.
- Keratin horn: Rhino horn is made of keratin, the same material that human hair and nails are made of.
- Weight: Some rhino species, such as the white rhino, can weigh up to 2.3 tons, making them among the heaviest land mammals.
- Specialized Lips: White and black rhinos have different lip shapes, which allows them to eat different types of plants. The white rhino has wide lips for foraging on grass, while the black rhino has hook-shaped lips for picking leaves and branches.
- Sight vs. Smell: Rhinos have poor eyesight, but highly developed sense of smell and hearing, which helps them orient themselves in the environment.
- Thick Skins: Although rhino skin looks tough and thick, it is sensitive and can be easily irritated by the sun and insects.
- High Risk of Extinction: Three of the five rhino species are considered critically endangered, mainly due to poaching and habitat loss.
- Mobility: Despite their impressive size and weight, rhinos are quite agile and can run at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
- Protecting Elephants: Rhino mothers are very protective and will aggressively defend their young from potential threats.
- Communications: Rhinos communicate with a variety of sounds, from grunts and whistles to roars, as well as with body positions and scent marks.