The white rhinoceros is one of the largest land mammals after elephants, native to grasslands of southern and central Africa, distinguished from other rhino species by its wide, flat mouth adapted for grazing grass rather than browsing leaves, and by carrying two horns made of keratin on its snout. It is the more social of Africa's two rhino species, sometimes forming small groups, and the southern white rhinoceros subspecies has recovered from near extinction in the early twentieth century to become the most numerous rhino subspecies in the world through sustained conservation efforts, while the northern white rhinoceros subspecies is functionally extinct, with only two known individuals, both female, remaining.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 1 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation Status Population EstimateSouthern white rhinoceros subspecies only, end of 2023; the northern white rhinoceros subspecies survives as only two known females. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceLargest extant rhinoceros species and the most social of all rhino species, distinguished by its wide, square mouth adapted for grazing. 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source White Rhinoceros (Wikipedia)
Source White Rhinoceros (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source World Wildlife Fund
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. White Rhinoceros (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
The white rhinoceros, white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is the largest extant species of rhinoceros. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species.
Infobox: status
NT
Lead section, subspecies sentence
the southern white rhinoceros, with an estimated 17,464 individuals in the wild as of the end of 2023
Article text
Although there are no measurable health benefits, the horn is sought after for traditional medicine and jewelry.
In Biome: Grassland, Northern white rhinoceros
Formerly found in several countries in East and Central Africa south of the Sahara, this subspecies is a grazer in grasslands and savanna woodlands.
In Biome: Grassland, Behavior and ecology
They are found in grassland and savannah habitat.
In Biome: Savanna, Behavior and ecology
They are found in grassland and savannah habitat.
View the Source 2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. White Rhinoceros (Wikipedia)
4. GBIF Species API
5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Ceratotherium simum (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix I
Wikidata: White Rhinoceros
Wikidata Q159918, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source White Rhinoceros (Wikidata)
WikidataInfobox: status2
CITES_A1
Wikidata Q159918 (P1034 main food source): grass
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): grass.
View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: PerissodactylaView the Source World Wildlife Fund
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