# Southern white rhinoceros (*Ceratotherium simum simum*) The Southern white rhinoceros is a large, gentle giant with a big horn on its nose. They live in groups and love to munch on grass in the sunny savannas of Africa. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Savannas - **Also known as:** White Rhino ![Southern white rhinoceros](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ceratotherium_simum_Kruger_Park_02.JPG&width=800) Photo: Esculapio, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ceratotherium_simum_Kruger_Park_02.JPG) ## Appearance The Southern white rhinoceros has a massive, grey, bald body with a distinctive broad, square lip perfect for grazing. It features two prominent horns on its snout, with the front horn being significantly longer than the back one. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Perissodactyla - **Family:** Rhinocerotidae - **Genus:** Ceratotherium ## Interesting facts - A group of rhinos is called a 'crash'—imagine that! - Their mighty horns are made of keratin, the same stuff as your fingernails! - These 'white' rhinos are actually grey and love to roll in mud for sunscreen! - They are the second-largest land mammal on Earth, after elephants! ## Special abilities - **Sharp Sense of Smell:** Southern white rhinoceros can detect predators from afar because of their super sense of smell, compensating for poor eyesight. - **Powerful Grazer:** Southern white rhinoceros has a wide, square lip that helps them efficiently snip vast amounts of short grasses for food. - **Thick Skin Shield:** Southern white rhinoceros has incredibly thick skin that protects them from thorny plants and the sun's harsh rays. - **Rapid Charger:** Southern white rhinoceros can run surprisingly fast despite their size, helping them escape danger when needed. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 340-420 cm - **Weight:** 1400-3600 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-50 years - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 450-480 days ## Diet & Feeding These massive herbivores primarily graze on short grasses to fuel their enormous bodies throughout the day. - **Primary Foods:** Short grasses, Fresh shoots, Herbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lion cubs may prey on very young rhino calves. - **Symbiotic with:** Red-billed Oxpecker (*Buphagus erythrorhynchus*) — Birds eat ticks off rhino skin, a mutually beneficial cleaning. - **Depends on:** Red Grass (*Themeda triandra*) — A key grass species forming a major part of their diet. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hyena clans may target weak or very young calves. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High Always watch from a safe distance and never approach wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern white rhinoceros? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Southern white rhinoceros? 340-420 cm ### How much does Southern white rhinoceros weigh? 1400-3600 kg ### How long does Southern white rhinoceros live? 40-50 years ### How fast can Southern white rhinoceros move? 48 km/h ### What does Southern white rhinoceros eat? These massive herbivores primarily graze on short grasses to fuel their enormous bodies throughout the day. ### Where is Southern white rhinoceros usually found? Savannas ### How does Southern white rhinoceros hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Peoria Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peoria-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Potawatomi Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/potawatomi-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Southwick's Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southwicks-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Tulsa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tulsa-zoo) — Oklahoma, US · Zoo - [Woburn Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woburn-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [ABQ BioPark Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abq-biopark-zoo) — New Mexico, US · Zoo [View all places to see Southern white rhinoceros](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-white-rhinoceros) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Southern white rhinoceros: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-white-rhinoceros)