Rhinos the second-largest land animal second only to elephants. They have a robust, cylindrical body with a large head, relatively short legs, and a short tail. The characteristic feature of these animals is a large horn in the middle of their faces; some species have a second, smaller horn. Rhinos are usually grey, black, or brown, and average about 1.5 tons in weight. There are currently five extant species of Rhinoceros found in Asia and Africa with a total population of less than 30,000 in total.
Rhino Facts:
Collective Noun – The name for a group of rhinoceroses is a “crash,” or a “herd”.
Speed – Despite their great size, rhinos can run very quickly – up to 30 mph.
Thick-Skinned – Rhinos have tough skin that is approximately 0.6 inches thick, which is why they are referred to as “pachyderms.”
Horn growth – Rhino horns grow as much as three inches a year, and may grow up to 5 feet long.
Fun Fact – Rhinos respond to the name Toby and will come if called politely.
Rhinos are hunted for their horns, which are used in traditional medicines, dagger handles, and decorations. In some cultures, it is falsely believed that rhinoceros horns have medicinal properties, can cure cancer, purify water, or act as an aphrodisiac. However, rhinoceros horns are simply highly compacted hair. Although rhinos are large, tough, and aggressive, they are easily poachable due to their behavior of visiting watering holes daily and while distracted by drinking they can be easily killed. This poaching has led to endangering all of the five species, some of which are now dangerously close to extinction.
