Rhinos

There are five different species of rhinoceros living today: the White Rhinoceros, Black Rhinoceros, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, and Sumatran Rhinoceros!

Scientists classify rhinoceros in the family Rhinocerotidae, which means they’re related to horses and tapirs!

A group of rhinoceros is called a “crash”.

White rhinoceros can live up to 40 years in the wild and even longer (up to 50 years) when cared for in zoos!

A male rhinoceros is called a bull, a female is called a cow, and a baby rhinoceros is called a calf!

The White Rhinoceros is the largest of all rhino species, with adult males weighing up to 5,500 pounds (2,500 kilograms) — that’s as heavy as three small cars!

Rhinoceros are herbivores, which means they only eat plants, and they can consume up to 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of vegetation in a single day!

The name “rhinoceros” comes from Greek words meaning “nose horn”!

White rhinos are huge! They rank as the second-biggest land mammals, with only elephants out-sizing them.

Different rhinoceros species live in Africa and Asia today, but long ago, their ancestors also roamed North America and Europe! However, rhinos have never naturally lived in Australia.

The Black Rhinoceros isn’t actually black — it’s the same grayish color as other rhinos!

A rhinoceros’s horn isn’t made of bone, but of keratin — the same material that makes up your hair and fingernails!

The skin of a rhinoceros can be up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) thick, protecting them from thorny bushes and sharp grass!

Despite their massive size, rhinoceros can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) — that’s faster than a professional soccer player!

A rhinoceros’ footprint can be nearly 12 inches (30 centimeters) long — almost as big as a dinner plate! Their front feet are slightly larger than their back feet, helping them balance their massive bodies.

The White Rhinoceros can grow to be 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder — comparable to the height of many basketball players.

A rhinoceros has three toes on each foot, and each toe has a special pad that helps them walk quietly despite their huge size!

The largest recorded White Rhinoceros horn was 59 inches (150 centimeters) long — taller than many children!

A rhinoceros’ ears can move independently to help them detect sounds from different directions!

The wrinkles in a rhinoceros’ skin help them stay cool by holding mud and water against their body!

A rhinoceros’ upper lip can be very flexible — the Black Rhinoceros uses its pointed upper lip like a finger to grab leaves and twigs!

Rhinoceros have relatively small brains for their body size — their brain only weighs about 400-600 grams (14-21 ounces)!

A rhinoceros’ horn grows continuously throughout its life, just like our fingernails!

A rhinoceros’ skin can be as thick as vehicle tire rubber in some places!

Rhinoceros have excellent hearing and a great sense of smell, but their eyesight isn’t very good — they can only see clearly for about 30 feet (9 meters)!

Rhinoceros are actually quite shy animals and usually try to avoid confrontation!

Mother rhinoceros are very protective and will stay with their calves for 2–4 years!

Rhinoceros communicate with each other using various sounds, including grunts, snorts, and even high-pitched squeaks!

Adult rhinoceros typically live alone, except for mothers with calves and breeding pairs!

Rhinoceros create paths through their habitat that they use repeatedly, like having their own personal hiking trails!

When rhinoceros feel threatened, they may charge forward while snorting loudly as a warning!

Rhinoceros love to take mud baths to cool off and protect their skin from insects and the sun!

Each rhinoceros has its own territory that it marks with piles of dung, known as middens!

Rhinoceros have excellent memories and can remember and recognize other rhinos they’ve met before!

Young rhinoceros calves often play with each other when their mothers meet up, just like kids at a playground!

Rhinoceros sometimes use their horns to dig for water in dry riverbeds!

Rhinoceros can sleep either standing up or lying down, and they often take short naps throughout the day!

Each rhinoceros species makes slightly different sounds — scientists can tell them apart just by listening!

Rhinoceros use special dung piles called middens to communicate with other rhinos in their area!

Different rhinoceros species live in various habitats, from open savannas to dense rainforests!

White Rhinoceros prefer open grasslands where they can easily graze on short grasses!

Black Rhinoceros are adapted to live in more wooded areas where they can browse on leaves and twigs!

Indian Rhinoceros love to spend time in water and are excellent swimmers!

Some birds called oxpeckers have a special relationship with rhinoceros — they eat insects off the rhino’s skin and warn them of danger!

Rhinoceroses can live in a variety of climates, from cool mornings to very hot days over 100°F (38°C)! Since they can’t sweat, they stay cool by rolling in mud, resting in the shade, or taking dips in water.

Adult rhinoceros have almost no natural predators except for humans because of their large size!

Some rhinoceros species can go several days without drinking water, if necessary!

During hot weather, rhinoceros are most active during early morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat!

Some rhinoceros species can climb steep hills and navigate rocky terrain despite their massive size!

A baby rhinoceros weighs between 55-140 pounds (25–65 kilograms) at birth — as much as a large dog!