White rhinoceros

Description:

The White Rhinoceros is the world's largest land mammal after the elephant. It has a massive body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. The head and body length is 11 to 14 ft, with the tail adding another 20 to 28 in. Shoulder height is 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 3 in. Weight typically ranges from 13,000 to 8,000 lb, with the male being slightly heavier. The largest recorded White Rhinoceros was about 9,900 lb. On its snout it has two horn-like growths, one behind the other. These are made of solid keratin, in which they differ from the horns of bovids (cattle and their relatives), which are keratin with a bony core, and deer antlers, which are solid bone. The color of the body ranges from yellowish brown to slate grey. Its only hair is the ear fringes and tail bristles. White Rhinos have a distinctive broad, straight mouth which is used for grazing. Its ears can move independently to pick up sounds but it depends most of all on smell. The olfactory passages which are responsible for smell are larger than their entire brain.

Habitat:

Eastern Cape, SA. Exact location not shown to protect these vulnerable animals.