Rhinoceroses have been a native to our planet Earth for over 15 million years. But a group of rhinos are most commonly found on the African continent rather than the rest of the world in the present day.
In case you are curious about what a group of rhinos is called then remember that just like any other herd of animals rhinoceroses too have a unique collective noun. Their group name is similar to how they function in a herd.
What is a Group of Rhinos Called?
A group of rhinos is called a crash. You are most likely to spot a crash while looking at white rhinoceroses according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). White rhinos are the most social among the five surviving species of rhinoceroses.
White rhinos prefer to be in small groups as a family structure unlike the black or Javan rhinoceroses
A typical crash of rhinos usually consists of a dominant female cow and her calves. Though it can occasionally expand to include up to 14 individuals who move together across the African savannah.
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Why is a Group of Rhinoceroses Called a Crash?
The term crash perfectly describes the physical reality of a stampeding group of animals. Rhinos are large animals that can easily run up to 30 to 40 miles per hour.
But National Park ranger logs frequently note that rhinos have notoriously poor eyesight. They struggle to see anything clearly beyond 30 feet.
Because they cannot see what lies ahead a panicked group of rhinos will simply charge forward together at full speed. They literally crash through bushes, trees, and obstacles in their path at full speed.
Other Collective Noun for Rhinos
A group of rhinos are indeed popular as a crash. But it is not the only terminology you can use for them. Language experts and historical texts have two other options for them depending on the context:
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Herd: It is a generic but scientifically acceptable term used by wildlife biologists to describe a gathering of any large herbivores.
Stubbornness: This is a rare old-fashioned collective noun that symbolises they are tough skinned.
Characteristics of Rhinoceros Groups
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Species
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Common Group Term
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Average Group Size
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White Rhino
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Crash / Herd
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6 to 14 individuals
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Black Rhino
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Solitary / Herd
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Generally solitary
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Sumatran Rhino
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Solitary
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Alone
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Facts about Rhinos as a Group
Here are some more interesting facts about the social nature of rhinos:
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The adult rhinos of the group form a solid outward facing circle when a crash is threatened by predators like lions or hyenas. They try to place the young calves safely in the centre.
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Male rhinos use communal dung heaps which are known as middens to mark their territory. It acts as a scent based communication network to identify which crash is in the nearby area.
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The subadults that have been independent for a short time often form temporary subgroups within a crash for mutual protection until they reach full maturity.