This scientific name was proposed by Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

Although both members are threatened, the Javan rhinoceros is one of the most endangered large mammals in the world with only 60 individuals surviving in Java (Indonesia).

[clarification needed] The genus name Rhinoceros is a combination of the ancient Greek words ῥίς (rhis) meaning 'nose' and κέρας (keras) meaning 'horn of an animal'.

[2][3] The genus Rhinoceros comprises: The earliest remains of the genus are known from the Late Miocene, represented by remains such as an indeterminate species found in deposits in Myanmar dating to around 8-9 million years ago.

[10] While Rhinoceros fusuiensis Yan et al. 2014[11] from the Early Pleistocene of South China has been transferred to Dicerorhinus.