The black rhinoceros has two horns which are made from hairs tightly grown together. The horns may grow to two feet or more and they are not attached to the bone of the skull. The black rhinoceros¿s upper lip has a pendulous projecting miniature ¿trunk¿ which is used to manipulate food. The black rhino is actually medium to dark grey in colour with paler underparts and inner limbs.

Weight

The male black rhinoceros weighs 1000-2000 kilograms, and the female is slightly smaller.

Height

The rhino stands around 1.5 metres tall to the shoulder.

Length

3-3.6 metres (10-12 feet) from head to body.

Tail

The tail is about 60 centimetres (2 feet) long.

Speed

55 kilometres per hour.

Life Span

Up to 50 years.

Head

The ears of the African rhinoceros can be turned in all directions, making its sense of hearing very keen. While its sense of smell and hearing are acute, the eyesight is very poor as the black rhino has small eyes. The rhinoceros horns lack a bony core, consisting of a mass of hollow filaments that adhere together and are loosely attached to a roughened area of the skull.

Body

The folds of loose skin and wrinkles give the rhinoceros a characteristic appearance. Heavy skin folds sit at the top of the forelegs and rear end. The skin of this animal is largely hairless, with only the end of the tail and the tips of the ears possessing hair.

Front Limb

The front limb of the rhinoceros has three widely-spaced digits, each with hooves. The digits have skin connecting them so that the ¿foot¿ does not sink so far into mud or soft ground. The front limbs act as a balancing pivot with the massive head on one side and the bulky body on the other.

Hind Limb

Like the front limb, the hind limb has three digits. The hind limbs supply the forward propulsive force for the animal, and are consequently strong.