Male vs Female Rhinos: 7 Key Differences

Ancestors of the rhinoceros date back 1 million years, making their way through China, Europe, and other parts of the world. As recently as the start of the 20th century, rhinos were still in the hundreds of thousands in their global population. Due to poaching and the loss of their natural habitat, national parks and reserves now hold most of this mammal’s population. The World Wildlife Fund states that there are 27,000 rhinos in the world today, and the focus on the male and female populations of each species sets the tone for the future. Here are some key differences between male and female rhinos.

Differences Between Male And Female Rhinos

1. Males Weigh Much More Than Female Rhinos

If you ever need to tell the difference between a male and female rhinoceros, their size is drastically different. Of the two, male rhinos are heavier and longer. Southern white rhinoceros males reach 5,300 pounds, though females only weigh 3,500 pounds. While black rhinos tend to be a little smaller, with an average weight of 1,870 to 3,530 pounds, the females are still smaller than males.

2. Females Are More Social

Females enjoy the company of other females, allowing them to roam freely with their calves. Sometimes, female rhinos have a group of up to 14 rhinos, including their calves. However, this social structure varies with each species, which is why these groups happen more frequently among white rhinos than with black rhinos.

Males are much different. Rather than forming a group with other bulls, they primarily stay on their own. In fact, when a dominant male meets another dominant male who wants control of the area, they engage in horn wrestling to decide the stronger of the two, allowing them to hold their solitary space upon winning.

3. Females Must Stay In Dominant Male Territory

While the female roams freely through her territory, the social balance changes when mating comes into play. Male rhinos must compete to mate with females, and deciding on a mate means that females can no longer leave their territory. The overall space for females can be 7+ times as large as a male’s territory because of her shared family with other females.

The male sets the perimeter of their territory, which he now has the female within, by setting up piles of dung. The area covers no more than a square mile, and it usually overlaps with the female’s territory.

4. Females Aren’t As Territorial

While the mating process brings out much of the territorial nature of the male rhino, females are noticeably less possessive. When they search for a mate, there is almost no competition among females at all. As they engage with males they select for mating; they don’t need to worry about competing to find a mate. Once they have mated with one mate, they might even mate with several others during their ovulation, but they give birth and raise calves among other females.

5. Males Get Aggressive With Other Males As They Court Females

If a female is ready to mate, male rhinos exhibit serious aggression that is rarely witnessed between females, if ever. Sometimes, males direct their aggression towards females. Indian rhinos, black rhinos, and white rhinos share with females during the courting process before they mate. With limited research available, both Sumatran and Javan rhinos are more elusive in their social habits during reproduction. Even when it comes to aggression toward other mammals beyond their size (like elephants), female rhinos are more likely to remain timid and remain passive.

6. Male Rhinos Sexually Mature At An Other Age Than Females

Males stay with their mothers for as long as they are calves, eventually setting out to establish their territorial dominance. They first establish their territory around 10 years old, marking the start of their sexual maturity. Females don’t take nearly as long to reach maturity, going through their first breeding cycle to give birth to their first calf as young as 5 years old. Before males reach this milestone, they take on a subordinate role within their social group. They continue to act submissively until they are old enough to mate and compete with others.

7. Male And Female Rhinos Have Different Horn Shapes And Lengths

The rhinoceros is one of many mammals with horns, regardless of gender. Except for the Javan rhinoceros, both males and females grow horns. Female Javan rhinos have a mound that would be at the base of the horn with no further growth.

To differentiate between the male and female rhino, examine both the width and length of the horn. The rhino is most likely a male if the horn is wide but short. Females, on the other hand, have a narrower horn, which is usually longer.

Key Differences Of Male vs. Female Rhinos: A Summary

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