The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is the 4th heaviest species of terrestrial animal, just edging out the hippopotamus. Only the three extant elephant species are heavier. Males average about 5,070 lbs. (2,300 kg) while females average 3,750 lbs. (1,700 kg) and larger specimens have been reported. Two sub-species of white rhinoceros have been described, the southern (C. s. simum) and northern (C. s. cottoni). The northern white rhino is functionally extinct, with only two females known to still be alive. The southern white rhino is doing well however, by rhino standards, with a population of roughly 20,000 individuals. This makes it the most abundant and widespread species of rhino. Still, like all rhinoceroses, its future is precarious.
The two sub-species of white rhino can be differentiated by the shape of their teeth and heads, length of the limbs, geographic location, and size, with the southern being slightly larger. Suffice it to say that they’re so similar that trying to identify your plastic representative at the sub-species level is an impossible task. And make no mistake, there are a lot of plastic representatives. Like all extant megafauna the white rhinoceros is an immensely popular animal. Toy Animal Wiki catalogs 62 different figures of the species and there are certainly more out there that are not listed.
Picking a white rhino for a one-figure-per-species collection can be a daunting task but it proved fairly easy for me. I came across mine “in the wild” being sold by a vendor at my local county fair last summer. It’s the CollectA 2019 white rhino and I immediately knew I had to have it. I also knew I had to review it and a year after acquiring it I’m finally getting around to the task.
The CollectA white rhino is presented in a static pose and measures 6” (15.24 cm) from snout to rump, not including the horn and tail. It stands 3” (7.62) tall at the shoulder. The actual white rhino can measure between 11-13’ (3.3-3.9 meters) with males being longer. Shoulder height can measure between 5.58–6.10’ (1.7-1.8 meters). Scaled down from a maximum size male (the toy represents a male) the figure comes out to be 1/26 in scale.
The CollectA white rhino represents an exceptional individual with an absurdly enormous nasal horn. To grasp just how out of scale it is, let’s compare the scale of the horn to the rest of the figure. The longest documented white rhino horn measured 59” (150 cm). Using that for scale the 1.75” horn on this rhino is 1/33 in scale vs. the 1/26 scale model. On average the front horn of the white rhino is about 24” (60 cm) in length. Scaled down from that length the horn on this figure becomes 1/13 in scale. For that reason, some might be put off by this figure, but I can’t help it, I think it looks awesome.
Although CollectA might have gotten a little carried away with the horn the rest of the model is lifelike and beautifully sculpted. The muzzle is accurately squared off which helps differentiate the white rhino from the black rhino with its pointed and prehensile lip.
The figure excels at conveying the size and heft of the creature it represents. The hump over the neck and shoulders is massive and thick and would have to be to house the muscles necessary to support the weight of that horn.
The rotund torso sags slightly in the middle where there’s also a shallow bump that in life also helps distinguish this species from the black rhino. The tail is curled too, another feature of the white rhino. Black rhinos generally hold their tails straight. The limbs are all thick and sturdy with three toes on each. Despite its heft the ribcage is slightly visible. Thick folds of skin are generously sculpted, particularly around the neck and limb joints. The think tough skin of the rhino is nicely conveyed here as well, with the entire body finely detailed in small wrinkles.
The figure is entirely grey but uses various dark and light tones blended together to give it a lifelike appearance. A brown wash is painted on the toenails and the area around the eyes have some brown touches too. The muzzle, tail tip, and tip of the horns are black. The eyes and nostrils are black too, but with a shiny finish.
The CollectA white rhinoceros is a nearly flawless and masterfully executed toy. The only qualm one might have with it is with the length of the first horn but there’s still no denying that it looks astounding. It’s one of my favorite figures in my collection. The CollectA white rhinoceros is currently in production and retails for about $8.99.
What a wonderfully impressive model! I contemplated replacing my Safari white rhino with it, but in the end I really like Safari’s rhinos (all extant and one wooly rhino of mine are Safari!).
The Safari one is great too, had I come across that one first I likely would have ended up with it instead. I plan to get Safari’s Sumatran and Indian rhinos but haven’t done it yet, gotta pace yourself in this hobby! I don’t care much for the Schleich black rhino I have but it was a couple bucks at a junk store and it will work for now.
My understanding of White Rhinos is that females have long slender horns and males have shorter, thick horns. The excessive length aside, this horn would seem better suited for a female white rhino but the figure is a male, looking at the underparts.
It’s a nicely sized figure and the head and body look terrific. The horn is the only thing I would nit pick about.
Yeah, I ran into the factoid while doing research for this review. Seems to me that the horn is too long for the species in general but also too thick for a female. I suppose someone with some skills could modify the horn into a more realistic size but I’m gonna keep mine as is.
To modify the horn, you’d have to cut the whole thing off and then rebuild it. Its thickness is fine for a male but it doesn’t taper quickly enough to make a short horn out of it (it would need to be about half the length of the current one or a bit less even).
However, with a bit of sculpy and a blow dryer to cure it, making a whole new horn would not be that difficult…..just a bit of trial and error.
I have this one on order from Minizoo. Definitely the best white rhino toy of them all.