Which animal is the largest living land mammal after elephants?

The white rhinoceros is the largest living land mammal after elephants. Large adults can weigh more than 2,000 kilograms and occasionally approach 2,500 kilograms.

Despite its name, the white rhinoceros is usually grey, not white. The name probably arose from a mistranslation or confusion involving an Afrikaans or Dutch word related to its broad, wide mouth. Its wide mouth helps it graze grass, while the black rhinoceros has a more pointed, prehensile lip for browsing.

White rhinoceroses live mainly in grasslands and savannas of eastern and southern Africa. They are generally social and may form groups, particularly around water or good grazing areas. Their horns are made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails.

The species has two recognised subspecies: the southern white rhinoceros and the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros. The northern subspecies is represented by only two known females, so conservation efforts focus on assisted reproduction.