interesting facts about Rhinoceros

November 3, 2009 | In: Animal facts for kids

The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek rhino (nose) and ceros (horn).

The rhinoceros has poor eyesight but it has a highly developed sense of smell and hearing.

The five species range in weight from 750 pounds to 8,000 pounds and stand anywhere from four and a half to six feet tall.

The average weight of a rhinoceros is over three to four thousand pounds.

A group of rhinos is called a “crash.”

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the species, weighing in at “only” 1750 pounds.

The five types of rhinos are the Sumatran, Javan, black, white, and Indian.

Javan rhinos and Indian rhinos have only one horn, while Sumatran rhinos, black rhinos, and white rhinos have two.

The White rhinoceros can reach a shoulder height of up to 4 m (13ft). It weighs more than 2,500 kg (5,500 lbs).

The rhinoceros can run at a speed of 30 to 40 miles per hour.

The rhino can sleep both standing as well as lying down.

Black rhinos have a hooked lip. White rhinos have a square lip. Black rhinos are actually gray.

Female rhinos give birth every three years to a single calf.

Egrets and other birds can be found with rhinos, feeding on the species external parasites.

Biologists estimate that wild rhinos live up to 35 years. In captivity, a rhino may live 40 years.