Rhinoceros is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia.
The rhinoceros family is characterized by its large size (one of the largest remaining megafauna), with all of the species able to reach one tonne or more in weight ; an herbivorous diet ; a thick protective skin, 1.5–5 cm thick, formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure ; relatively small brains for mammals this size (400–600 gr) ; and a large horn. They generally eat leafy material, although their ability to ferment food in their hindgut allows them to subsist on more fibrous plant matter, if necessary. Unlike other perissodactyls, the African species of rhinoceros lack teeth at the front of their mouths, relying instead on their powerful premolar and molar teeth to grind up plant food.
Rhinoceros are killed by humans for their horns, which are bought and sold on the black market, and which are used by some cultures for ornamental or (largely pseudo-scientific) medicinal purposes. The horns are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails. Both African species and the Sumatran Rhinoceros have two horns, while the Indian and Javan Rhinoceros have a single horn.
Rhinoceros family sizes
Rhinoceros distribution maps
The IUCN Red List identifies three of the species as "critically endangered".
Sources : Wikipedia and Rhino Resource Center
