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A popular theory of the origins of the name White Rhinoceros is a mistranslation from Dutch into Afrikaans and English. The Afrikaans word "wit", meaning "white" in English is said to have been derived by mistranslation of the Dutch word "wijd", which means "wide" in English and is spelt "wyd" in Afrikaans. The word "wide" refers to the width of the Rhinoceros mouth. So early European settlers in South Africamisinterpreted the "wyd" for "white" and the rhino with the wide mouth ended up being called the White Rhino and the other one, with the narrow pointed mouth, was called the Black Rhinoceros.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThey aren'r really, it's all down to a messed-up translation. In Africa there are two species of rhino, one with a wide mouth and one with a pointy mouth. Wide in afrikaans is something like "weit", which sounds like white.
From there someone came up with the reasoning that "OK, we have two species. If one is is white, the the other must be black".
The black rhino might be a tad darker, but in reality basically they're both a kind of muddy grey.
A popular theory of the origins of the name "White Rhinoceros" is a mistranslation from Dutch to English. The English word "white" is said to have been derived by mistranslation of the Dutch word "wijd", which means "wide" in English. The word "wide" refers to the width of the rhinoceros' mouth. So early English-speaking settlers in South Africamisinterpreted the "wijd" for "white" and the rhino with the wide mouth ended up being called the White Rhino and the other one, with the narrow pointed mouth, was called the Black Rhinoceros
There is no confirmed explanation for why Black Rhinos are called black, but the theory is that since black rhinos are prone to wallowing, when people saw them, coated in dark mud, they thought that they were black in colour. Their actually skin colour is dark grey
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoAll rhino's are basically shades of gray, the "white" in "white rhino" is a messed up translation of "wide", referring to the shape of its mouth.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoRhinoceros originates from Greek. Rhinos is nose and the Keros is horn. So basically the names comes from it having a horned nose.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoit has a white skin
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What is the largest rhino?
The White RhinoThe Indian RhinoThe Black RhinoThe Javan RhinoThe Sumarian Rhino
What is the biological name of a rhino?
White Rhino - Ceratotherium simumBlack Rhino - Diceros bicornisIndian Rhino - Rhinoceros unicornisJavan Rhino - Rhinoceros sondaicusSumatran Rhino - Dicerorhinus sumatrensisAbove are the biological names of the many different species of Rhino's
White rhino or American rhino bigger?
There is no species called American Rhino. But the white rhino is the biggest of the Rhino species.
Which rhino is the largest between black or white rhino?
The white rhino is the largest species of rhinoceras.The white rhino. White rhinos can weigh nearly three tons, to around 3000 pounds for the black rhino. Some males can grow much larger than this, some white rhino bulls have reached nearly four tons, and a few black rhino bulls approach two tons (4000 pounds).
Which rhino is the largest white or black?
The white rhino is the largest species.
What makes a javan white rhino grey instead of white?
It's not an Javan white rhino, it's a Javan rhino short and simple. Unless it's a White Rhino being held in a Javan zoo.
Is the Indian rhino the biggest rhino?
No, it is the second biggest after the White Rhino.
Is white rhino drug illegal?
White rhino is a strain of Marijuana that is laced with cocaine.
Can your describe the white rhino?
white...
What is a scientific name for a rhino?
There are four extant (living) genera of rhino. They are listed below with the species that belongs in each genus listed below it.CeratotheriumCeratotherium simum (White Rhino)DicerorhinusDicerorhinus sumatrensis (Sumatran Rhino)DicerosDicero bicornis (Black Rhino)RhinocerosRhinoceros unicornis (Indian Rhino)Rhinoceros sondaicus (Javan Rhino)
What is the difference between black rhino and white rhino?
The white rhino is larger, and has a square upper lip, while the black rhino has a more pointed, prehensile lip for browsing on the twigs and leaves it eats. The white rhino is a grazer, feeding mainly on grasses. This is also why you will see the white rhino walking with its head closer to the ground. The black rhino usually have a more curved back compared to the white, which have a more straight line. From the behavior can you tell that a mother white rhino always will run behind the calf, and the black rhino will always run in front of the calf. It might be because the black rhino mother then can run down the bush for the calf since they live in thick bushlands. The white rhino shows social behaviour, while the black rhino is mostly solitary and more aggressive. In the Afrikaans language white is translated "wide" so the white rhino has a wide snout and a black rhino has a narrower snout.
Who stronger croc or rhino?
Rhino on land and 'croc' in water
