Scientific name -- Ceratherium simum
Size -- 4000-6000 lbs.
Diet -- grasses, leaves, twigs

There are five species of living rhino, though all are endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. The two African rhinos are the more peaceful white and the unpredictable black rhino. Rhinos are herbivores and use their prehensile upper lip to browse leaves from plants. They are adapted to arid conditions and can survive several days without drinking.

Adult rhinos are solitary and territorial, coming together only to breed. Rhinos tend to give birth to a single young, which stays with the mother for about two years. Rhino lifespan is about forty years. They have poor vision particularly for motionless objects, but a good sense of smell. Adult rhinos have no predators but humans.

Several other animals depend on rhinos to survive. As large mammals, rhinos support several parasites such as ticks. The Rhino dung beetle depends on rhino dung to lay its eggs. The oxpecker bird feeds off of the rhino ticks, benefiting both the rhino and the bird.

Black rhinos and white rhinos are not named for their colors, but for the shapes of their lips. Dutch settlers in South Africa called the white rhino "wide" for their lips, which was later mistranslated by English settlers. The black rhino was named to distinguish it from the white.