# How Fast Is A Rhinoceros?

> Rhino charges are commonly cited around 50 km/h — a short burst, not a race time, and not one number for all five species.

- **Species:** Rhinoceros (*Ceratotherium simum*)
- **Conservation status:** Near Threatened
- **Diet:** Herbivore
- **Habitat:** Savanna, grassland, and tropical forest
- **Lifespan:** 40–45 years
- **Top speed:** 50 km/h (31 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros/how-fast-is-a-rhinoceros/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The rhinoceros is a massive, thick-skinned herbivore famous for the horn (or horns) on its snout, which is made of keratin, the same material as hair and nails. The white rhino is the largest of the five species and can weigh over 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Rhinos have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing, and they typically live 40 to 45 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Rhinoceros profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros/) instead.

## Horns of keratin

A rhino's horn is not bone but compacted keratin, the same protein found in hair and fingernails, and it keeps growing through life. Tragically, demand for horn in illegal markets has made rhinos a prime target for poachers, even though the horn has no proven medicinal value.

## Help protect the Rhinoceros

Rhinos are still poached for their horns, with several species clinging on in tiny, scattered populations.

[Donate to stop rhino poaching](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/rhinos/)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros/how-fast-is-a-rhinoceros/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.