white rhinos
by: isaiah hobbs
white rhinos
tell us about this animal describe its characteristics?
second largest land mammal after the elephant.Adult males can reach 1.85m in height and weigh a massive 3.6 tonnes. Females are considerably smaller but can still weigh an impressive 1.7 tonnes.also known as the square lipped rhinoceroses because of their square not pointed upper lip. their name comes from Afrikaans word “weit”, which means wide and refers to the animal’s muzzle.
how is it born? how does the mother care for its young? Females reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age but do not reproduce until they reach 6 -7 years. Males tend not to mate until they are 10-12 years old. They can live up to 40 years.Mating occurs throughout the year, although peaks have been observed from October to December in South Africa and from February to June in East Africa. The gestation period is approximately 16 months with a period of 2-3 years between calves.White rhinos are the only grazer among the five rhino species, feeding almost exclusively on short grasses. They primarily inhabit grassy savanna and woodlands interspersed with grassy clearings.The animals tend to avoid the heat during the day, when they rest in the shade. They are usually active in the early morning, late afternoon and evening. During very hot periods, the cool and rid themselves of external parasites by bathing in mud in shallow pools.
how does it get its food?what does it eat?
white rhinos eat mostly grass but also eat fruit,berries,and leaves
where does it live and what are some of its habits?
most white rhinos live in south africa or wildlife conservations. some of its habits are laying in the shade and watering in mud and water.
who are its enemies and how does it defend itself?
White rhinos have two horns, the foremost more prominent than the other. Rhino horns grow as much as three inches (eight centimeters) a year, and have been known to grow up to five feet (1.5 meters) long. Females use their horns to protect their young, while males use them to battle attackers.The prominent horn for which rhinos are so well known has been their downfall. Many animals have been killed for this hard, hair-like growth, which is revered for medicinal use in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The horn is also valued in North Africa and the Middle East as an ornamental dagger handle.The white rhino once roamed much of sub-Saharan Africa, but today is on the verge of extinction due to poaching fueled by these commercial uses. Only about 11,000 white rhinos survive in the wild, and many organizations are working to protect this much loved animal.
work cited : www.nationalgeographic.com (questions 1-5)
work cited: https://www.reddit.com , www.cnn.com , http://theredish.com/