What's the Difference Between the Black and White Rhino?

Despite their names, the black and white rhinoceros aren't distinguished by the color of their skin, but by the shape of their mouths and their feeding habits. The white rhino has a broad, flat mouth designed for grazing on grass, while the black rhino is smaller, more agile, and has a pointed, prehensile upper lip perfect for browsing leaves and twigs from bushes and trees.

The story behind the name "white rhino" is quite amusing. It doesn’t actually refer to the rhino's color, but comes from a misinterpretation of the Afrikaans word "wijde," meaning "wide" — referring to the animal's broad mouth. English speakers mistook it for "white," and the name stuck. As for the black rhino, its name was chosen simply in contrast, even though both species have similar skin tones