In Chulin 59a there is a discussion that ends up stating that any animal that lacks upper front teeth is definitely a kosher animal provided one can identify the young camel.
I have read that the African Rhino indeed lacks upper front teeth (and lower front teeth) - as quoted from Wikipedia "Unlike other perissodactyls, the two African species of rhinoceros lack teeth at the front of their mouths, relying instead on their powerful premolar and molar teeth to grind up plant food." However the Rhino is not a kosher animal.
The Beraisa does only mention a lack of upper front teeth, which may imply that such animals that lack upper front teeth are kosher provided that they have lower front teeth. The Rhino apparently (as stated above) lacks both upper and lower front teeth. This may be an answer to the question. But this is not stated explicitly in the Beraisa.
Your thoughts on the above possible solution and your thoughts as to whether there any other answers to help me understand how this can be. The baraisa states what appears to be a universal statement (lack of upper front teeth shows that an animal is kosher-except the young camel) and yet the Rhino who apparently possess this sign is not kosher animal?
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my questions.
Mike, Denver
It seems to me that the discussion in the Gemara about upper front teeth is relevant when we do not know whether or not the animal is "Ma'aleh Gerah" and "Mafreset Parsah" -- chews the cud and has split hooves. These two signs of kosher animals are mentioned explicitly in the Torah. If we know that an animal is not Ma'aleh Gerah or Mafreset Parsah, the lack of front teeth will not help to make it kosher since it is lacking the Simanim of a kosher animal that the Torah gives.
In fact, this is also apparent in our Gemara. The Gemara states that if the animal does not have upper front teeth it is certain that it is Ma'aleh Gerah and Mafris Parsah and is kosher. This suggests that the chief factor is Ma'aleh Gerah and Mafris Parsah, and the upper teeth are merely a way of proving the latter. Then the Gemara asks, why not check its hooves? This question teaches us that if would be possible to check the hooves (for instance, if they were not cut, as the Gemara mentions), the lack of front teeth would not help to make the animal kosher.
I assume that the African Rhino does not chew the cud and does not possess split hooves. The powerful premolar and molar teeth would presumably prove that it does not chew the cud.
All the best,
Dovid Bloom