Black Rhinoceros

Rhinos are familiar to people all over the world because of their great size and unusual shape.  Rhinos are huge muscular animals with horns on their noses.  These horns are made out of keratin which is the material in our finger nails.  They use these horns to protect themselves and their calves.

Physical Description

Black Rhinos are huge grayish browsers.  This means they eat leaves and twigs.  They can reach 10 feet in length and weigh over 3,000 pounds.  A Black Rhino has 2 horns on its nose.  The front horn can grow over 4 feet long.  Black Rhinos have a long pointed upper lip, which curls around leaves and pulls them into the rhino’s mouth.  These rhinos have very little hair but they have very thick hides to protect them from thorns and sharp teeth and claws of predators.

Family Life

Mother Black Rhinos have 1 calf. The mother rhino will watch over the calf for at least 2 years.  Adult Black Rhinos live alone.

Diet

Leaves, twigs and plant shoots