Southern square-lipped rhinoceros
The Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros. It is the most common and widespread subspecies of rhinoceros. Southern white rhinos are one of the largest and heaviest land animals in the world.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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HerdingA herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withSouthern white rhinos have an immense body and large head, a short neck, and a broad chest. On their snout, they have two horns. The front horn is larger than the other horn and averages 60 cm (24 in) in length and can reach 150 cm (59 in). Females usually have longer but thinner horns than the males which are larger but shorter. Southern white rhinos also have a prominent muscular hump that supports their large head. These animals can range in color from yellowish brown to slate grey. Southern white rhinos have a distinctive flat broad mouth that is adapted for grazing short grasses on the savannah.
Southern white rhinos are found in southern Africa, ranging from South Africa to Zambia. They live in the grasslands, savannas, and shrublands.
Southern white rhinos are mainly social animals. They aggregate in small herds that consist of females and juvenile calves. Males usually remain solitary; they maintain territories that don't overlap with the territories of other males. These territories are marked by urine spray and dung and are defended from other males. Females can move freely between these territories. However, during the mating season, females become aggressive, especially when trying to protect their calf. Southern white rhinos are active during the day and spend about half of the day feeding. These animals have poor eyesight, but a very sharp sense of hearing and smell. When threatened they get extremely aggressive and can charge at speeds of 56 kph (35 mph).
Southern white rhinos are strictly herbivores (graminivores) that feed on short grasses.
Little is known about the mating system in Southern white rhinos. The breeding season occurs throughout the year but females reproduce once in 2-3 years. They give birth to a single calf after the gestation period that lasts around 16 months. Newborn calves weigh about 45 kg (100 pounds) at birth. They begin to eat grass a few weeks after birth but nurse until they are 18 months old. The mother and calf stay very close to each other and little rhinos always walk in front of their mothers. Young usually become independent in 2-3 years when the next calf is born.
Southern white rhinos are threatened by habitat loss, continuous poaching in recent years, and the high illegal demand for rhino horn for commercial purposes. These animals also suffer from use in traditional Chinese medicine.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Southern white rhinoceros is around 10,080 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
Southern white rhinos play a very important role in the ecosystem they live. They are the most important herbivores across their range that graze on a vast amount of grasses. These animals help to increase the biodiversity of grasses and potentially prevent wildfires. In addition, Southern white rhinos have a tight friendship with several bird species, as they feed on the insects and parasites that are present in the hide and on the back of rhinos.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...