rhinoceros

Everyday

A rhinoceros is a very large, thick-skinned grey animal from Africa or Asia with one or two horns on its nose. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons, there are five kinds of rhino: white and black rhinos in Africa, and Indian, Javan and Sumatran rhinos in Asia. They eat plants. Several are critically endangered because poachers kill them for their horns, which are made of keratin like our fingernails. Conservation and rangers protect them.

Examples

• A rhinoceros has very thick skin. tree →
• The black rhinoceros is critically endangered. tree →
• Rhino horn is made of keratin, like your hair. tree →
• We saw two rhinos on safari. tree →
• A baby rhinoceros is called a calf. tree →
• Rangers guard the rhinoceroses from poachers. tree →
• The Beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros, only there were five eyes in its face. tree →

Note

Usually shortened to rhino. Plural: rhinoceroses, rhinos, or sometimes rhinoceros. Said rye-NOSS-er-us. Myth: rhino horn does not cure illness. A group of rhinos is called a crash.