White rhinoceros
White rhinoceros Introduction
White rhinos live on Africa’s grassy plains, where they sometimes gather in groups of as many as a dozen individuals. Females reproduce only every two and a half to five years. Their single calf does not live on its own until it is about three years old. Under the hot African sun, white rhinos take cover by lying in the shade. Rhinos are also wallowers. They find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with a natural bug repellent and sunblock. Rhinos have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. They may find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind it on the landscape. White rhinos have two horns, the foremost more prominent than the other. Rhino horns grow as much as three inches a year, and have been known to grow up to five feet long. Females use their horns to protect their young, while males use them to battle attackers.
Keywords to learn
Repellent: A substance that deters insects or other pests from approaching or settling
About Me
Hey Kids, my name is Wes the White rhinoceros and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @
http://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
Key Data
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Order:Proboscidea.
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Lifespan:Up to 70 years.
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Class:Mammalia.
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Scientific Name:Loxodonta africana.
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Mass:2.5 to seven tons.
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Length:Height at the shoulder, 8.2 to 13 feet.
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Region found:Africa.
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Population Status:Vulnerable.
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Current population trend:Increasing.
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Diet:Herbivorous.
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Sexual maturity:10-12 years.
You have just learned about the White rhinoceros, an amazing creature, and one of the largest animals in the world. Here is some other stuff about the White rhinoceros.
Now that you know more about the White rhinoceros by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.
Download questions about the White rhinoceros here: White Rhinoceros (answers are on this page)
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White rhinoceros Fun Facts for Kids
- # 1. African elephants are a keystone species, meaning they play a critical role in their ecosystem. Also known as “ecosystem engineers,” elephants shape their habitat in many ways.
- # 2. During the dry season, they use their tusks to dig up dry riverbeds and create watering holes many animals can drink from. Their dung is full of seeds, helping plants spread across the environment—and it makes pretty good habitat for dung beetles too!
- # 3. Elephant ears radiate heat to help keep these large animals cool.
- # 4. Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark, and they eat a lot of these things. An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day.
- # 5. Elephants are matriarchal, meaning they live in female-led groups. The matriarch is usually the biggest and oldest. She presides over a multi-generational herd that includes other females, called cows, and their young. Adult males, called bulls, tend to roam on their own, sometimes forming smaller, more loosely associated all-male groups.
Q&A Corner
# 1. Where does the White rhino live?
# 2. What is the average lifespan of the White rhino?
# 3. What is the population status of the White rhino?
# 4. What is the current population trend of the White rhino?
# 5. How long can the White rhinos horn grow?
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