RHINOCEROS

The word 'rhinoceros' means 'nose-horn'. This relates to the long horn or two long horns in the case of the White Rhinoceros and the Black Rhinoceros, which is perched on top of their noses.

Rhinoceroses are 'perissodactls', which means 'odd toed ungulates'. 'Odd toed ungulates' are animals that have hoofs but have a reduced number of toes (usually 3 toes). Rhinoceroses carry their main weight on the middle toe of each foot.

The rhino is prized for its horn. The horns of a rhinoceros are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails. The rhinoceros family is characterized by its large size, with all of the species able to reach one ton or more in weight