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The most obvious distinguishing characteristic of the rhinos is a large horn above the nose. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words rhino (nose) and keros (horn). Rhinoceros horns, unlike those of other horned mammals, consist of keratin only and lacks a bony core, such as bovine horns. |
A rhino has thick, folded skin which looks like heavy armour plating, and a prominent horn which grows over middle of the nose. While most horns have a bony structure, rhino horn is made of a substance rather like human fingernails which grows directly from the skin. Sumatran and black rhinos have two horns. |