Article Outline Kinds of rhinoceroses. Protecting the rhinoceros. Rhinoceros Rhinoceros is a huge animal that ranks as one of the largest land creatures. The rhinoceros has an immense, solid body, and short, stocky legs. Its thick skin appears to lie in folds but is actually just creased at the joints.
Most species have little hair.
Depending on the species, the rhinoceros has one or two slightly curving horns that project from its long nose. The horns continue to grow throughout the life of the rhinoceros. The horn consists of a fiberlike material similar to a mixture of hair and fingernails. It appears to be permanently joined to the rhinoceros's nose but can be torn out during fighting. The name rhinoceros comes from two Greek words and means nose-horned.