What do rhinos look like?

Physical Characteristics

* Size: Rhinos are large, bulky animals. The white rhinoceros is the largest land mammal after the elephant, standing up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms).

* Skin: Rhino skin is thick and leathery, and it can be up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) thick on the back. The skin is usually gray or brown, but it can also be reddish or orange.

* Horns: Rhinos have one or two horns on their snout. The horns are made of keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails. The horns can be up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long and weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms).

* Ears: Rhino ears are large and floppy, and they are used to help the animals regulate their body temperature.

* Eyes: Rhino eyes are small and set high on the head, which gives them a wide field of vision.

* Legs: Rhino legs are short and thick, and they are well-suited for supporting the animals' weight.

* Feet: Rhino feet are large and rounded, and they have three toes each. The feet are well-cushioned, which helps to reduce the impact of the animals' weight on their joints.

Variations Among Species

There are five species of rhinoceros, and they all have some distinct physical characteristics.

* White rhinoceros: The white rhinoceros is the largest of the rhino species. It has a long, pointed snout and two horns.

* Black rhinoceros: The black rhinoceros is smaller than the white rhinoceros, and it has a hooked snout and two horns.

* Greater one-horned rhinoceros: The greater one-horned rhinoceros is found in India and Nepal. It has a single horn and a distinctive armor-like skin.

* Sumatran rhinoceros: The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of the rhino species. It has two horns and a shaggy coat of hair.

* Javan rhinoceros: The Javan rhinoceros is critically endangered, and there are only about 67 individuals left in the wild. It has one horn and a smooth coat of skin.