The black rhino's mouth is narrower with a prehensile upper lip used for grasping food. In 1970, the world population of black rhinos was 65,000. By 1980, it dropped to 15,000 and today, it is thought that fewer than 3,000 black rhinos remain. Rhinos are victims of the animal parts trade and have been illegally hunted nearly to extinction. Adults weigh between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds and are 10 to 12 feet long.
Black rhinos have two horns, one longer than the other.
The rhino's horn is made of the same substance as their toenails. The anterior, or front horn, can grow to 1.6 feet in length in the wild. The black rhino has a good sense of smell and excellent hearing, but very poor eyesight. Their average life span is 40 years. Temperament in this species is unpredictable.