A Michigan trophy hunter who paid $US400,000 ($584,000) to kill a rare black rhinoceros in Africa in 2018 is seeking a federal permit to allow him to import its skin, skull and horns to the United States, according to government records.

The hunter, Chris Peyerk of Shelby Township, Michigan, applied in April for the required permit. Under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to import trophies of endangered species unless it is determined that doing so would help the survival of the species.