The Southern white rhinoceros is a large species of ungulate native to Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia). They are large, broad animals with thick, grey skin. The Southern white rhinoceros has two horns, with the front horn being much longer than the secondary horn. The head of the rhinoceros is almost rectangular in shape with a square snout. They have protuberant ears on the top of their head and a hump at the base of the neck formed of the musculature that supports the head. Male Southern white rhinoceros measure between 3.7 and 4m in length, are 170 to 188cm tall and weigh an average of 2300kg. Females measure between 3.4 and 3.65m in length, are 160 to 177cm tall and weigh an average of 1700kg.
Latin Name
Ceratotherium simum simum
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southern-white-rhinoceros
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Animal Facts
The Southern white rhinoceros is the most numerous rhinoceros species.
93% of the entire population of Southern white rhinoceros live in South Africa.
The Southern white rhinoceros has mutualistic relationships with cattle egrets, red-billed oxpeckers and cape starlings, 3 bird species that remove parasites from their skin.
Although the Southern white rhinoceros has no natural predators, they have been seen with scars as the result of fighting with hyenas.
The Southern white rhinoceros is the largest pure grazer in the world.
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