White rhinos are larger than black rhinoceroses and have a nuchal hump, a longer head, a straighter back, and a square lip, as opposed to the hooked lip of the black rhino.
The white rhino may be distinguished externally from the sympatric black rhino (Diceros bicornis) by a larger size, presence of a nuchal hump that is more obvious when the head is held up, a long head, square lip, enlarged horn-bases, and a straight back with marked presacral.
The white rhino’s head is normally held low and the lips are flat, squared, and broad, suitable for grazing. The lower lip bears a hardened pad.
The average length of the white rhino’s head and body, not including the tail, is 3.35 to 3.77 meters. The average length of the tail ranges from 0.57 to 0.77 meters. In addition, white rhinoceros average shoulder height is 1.71 to 2.85 meters, whereas the average girth is between 2.01 and 2.20 meters.
• Image | © Paul Baker, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• Sources | (Dulal, 2017; Estes, 1991; Groves, 1972; Nowak, 1999; Pienaar, 1994)
