All animals possess some exclusive features that offer them a distinct identity - some species have huge droopy ears, some possess large eyes, while others have a horn.What makes the unicorn so special? It’s the pointed horn on its head.Although the unicorn is not a real animal, our childhood is incomplete without these enchanting mythological creatures. Isn’t it a delight to watch antlers adorned with intricate headgears? Animals with horns and antlers have never failed to grab the eyeballs of the human race and most of the time they have had to pay very dearly for it. Animals (particularly males) chiefly use their horns to fight off predators or to woo their female counterparts. History offers evidence of the hunting and poaching of these innocent wild animals with big horns. Just like elephants are killed on a large scale for their ivory tusks and meat, innumerable wild animals have been murdered for extracting their horns for commercial purposes. For instance, the population of rhinos has been adversely affected owing to unrestrained hunting. The animal is hunted worldwide for extracting its precious horns. The horns were used historically by the Chinese primarily for their medicinal properties but their usefulness has surpassed the medical world. Some rhinos have been victimized to the point of extinction. Do you know that the horns of a rhino cost more than gold? The cost per kilogram is a whopping $65,000 USD in the black market. Vietnam earns enormous profits from the sale of horns. Despite being banned in several countries, the illegal hunting and poaching of rhinos continue to date. The northern white rhino as well as the western black rhino have recently qualified from being critically endangered to extinction while the addax remains critically endangered. Wildlife preservation is essential to revive these animals from the verge of extinction.If you enjoyed the content then keep reading to find out more. Don’t forget to peek into these suggestions about animals with opposable thumbs and animals with big eyes.Names Of African Animals With HornsThe forests of the African continent are teeming with diverse wild animals and birds. Here is a list of some of the names of animals with horns that inhabit several regions of Africa.In Africa, numerous animals come with horns. Some of them are the wildebeest, kudu, gazelle, gemsbok, springbok, waterbuck, addax, bongo, impala, eland, hartebeest, cape buffalo, Nubian ibex, rhino, giraffe, and the Scimitar-horned oryx. Each species displays a unique pair of horns. For instance, six distinct species of gazelle can be spotted in Africa where both the males and females develop horns. The horns possessed by the males are longer than their counterparts to display dominance. In fact, the males often challenge their competitors to establish their dominance. On the other hand, the females are believed to look for males who have a strong set of horns and are capable of protecting the offspring. The impala is another commonly occurring antelope species that are known to possess long, hollow horns that have an average length of about 27.6 in (70.1 cm).The kudus have been divided into two species namely the lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Like the other deer species, the male deer lock horns in a fight, and the stronger one emerges victorious. However, sometimes their horns get entangled so badly that they cannot be disengaged. In such cases, the deer perish due to dehydration and starvation. The male and female deer are hunted down for their horns that are extracted to produce a musical instrument called the kudu horn. Did you know that the dung of this deer is also used in games? It goes by the name of kudu dung-spitting where the competitors engage in spitting the pellets of dung. This championship is conducted every year and the contestant whose pellets reach the farthest spot wins. People belonging to the Afrikaner community enthusiastically participate in the sport.Two-Horned AnimalsTo put it simply, the list is too long to fit in! Let’s explore some of the most popular ones.Abundantly found in North Africa, the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) has singular horns shaped like a sickle. In fact, the name scimitar has been attributed to the species as their horns resemble the shape of the backsword of the same name. The horns are excessively long and thin, running symmetrically in a backward curve. The females possess more slender horns than the males. These horns are very hollow and are fragile enough to break off easily. While the body size ranges from 55-94 in (140-238.7 cm) in length, the length of the horns goes up to 39-47 in (99-119.3 cm). In northern Africa, the oryx species was extensively killed for their horns thereby reducing its population dramatically.With its elegant spiraling horns, the blackbuck portrays a striking appearance. The horns are very long, measuring around 20-24 in (50.8-61 cm) in length. There are ridges on the horns that go straight up to the tips. The male blackbuck with the longest horn had a length of over 28 in (71 cm). Do you know that there’s a mammal that comes with four horns? It’s the male Tetracerus quadricornis or four-horned antelope. The females of the species lack horns. This unique antelope is native to central India.Female Animals With HornsGenerally, horns are more common among males and mostly absent in females but there are a few exceptions.Some female members of the Bovidae family including the buffalo, sheep, goat, muskoxen, and even cattle are known to grow horns. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, you must have come across a deer with intricately designed antlers. The males of most deer species develop antlers or horns to fight off other competitive males and appease the females during the breeding season. However, a female reindeer (also called caribou) can grow a set of antlers. Reindeers are close relatives of bovids and hence, it can be inferred that the females develop horns for similar reasons, that is, chiefly for defending their territory and food from other intruding females.It has been observed that female reindeers exhibit a similar tendency. Some female reindeer have been traced protecting their food sources amidst patches cleared of snow. The size of the antler determines the dominance and health condition of a female caribou. Did you know that unlike animals with horns, caribou shed off their antlers every year and regrow them? Horns stay with the animal for their entire lifetime with the sole exception of the pronghorn that regrows the horn sheath after shedding it every year.Unique Animals With Curly HornsA variation in the design of horns has been identified in different animal species. While the straight horns are pretty commonplace, curly or curved horns render the animal an exquisitely uncommon appearance.Also renowned as the screw-horned goat, Pakistan’s national animal, markhor (Capra falconeri) possesses a pair of specialized horns in the shape of a corkscrew. The markhor uses its curved horns to fight with other males typically by locking horns. Male and female markhors have horns. While the horns of the former measure 63 in (160 cm), the length of the latter goes up to 10 in (25.4 cm).A member of the Bovidae family, the feral sheep, Ovis gmelini or mouflon has horns that fall backward in a downward curve with their tips pointing up. A male mouflon with larger horns and more age gains dominance. The horns continue to grow until death. These wild male sheep use their horns for aggressive combats. Upon winning, the opponent licks the neck of the dominant male to please him.Only Animal Born With A HornYou have learned about many species of animals that have beautiful horns but are you aware of the only animal that possesses a horn right from its birth? The giraffe is your answer!The tallest mammal of the world, Giraffa camelopardalis, is not only the sole animal species to have the longest neck, but it also inherits the horns from the time of its birth. A giraffe’s horns are commonly called ossicones that are covered with tissues of the skin. However, unlike the others, the horns remain detached from the skull when they are born. This adaptation protects them from head injuries. With time, the horns merge with the skull. Both the males and females possess horns but they can be told apart. The males possess comparatively thicker horns. Since the males engage in necking frequently, the top portion of the horns becomes bald while the females have hair. Nine separate subspecies of the giraffe have been identified in Africa.Antlers Vs. HornsCan the terms antler and horn be used interchangeably? What’s the difference? Time to find out!Both horns and antlers are unique adaptations that mostly act as a defense mechanism among these creatures. They are impressive headgears that grow naturally on the head. The word horn is typically attributed to the animals of Africa whereas the inhabitants of North America are said to don antlers. However, the difference lies in their functions. Antlers are commonly associated with the Cervidae family only. Apart from the reindeer, females do not possess antlers. These antlers emerge right from the skull as an extension hence, qualifying to be called true bones. They’re paired and branch-like structures that contain high amounts of protein and water.The velvet covering is composed of soft hair constituting nerves and blood vessels. Ossification of an antler occurs due to environmental as well as hormonal changes which means that the spongy bones gradually turn into thicker and harder lamellar bones after which they shed the velvet completely. The antlers are not permanent and last for only some months after which they shed. A new set of antlers grow every year. On the other hand, true horns are associated with the members of the Bovidae family including gazelle and antelope species as well as goat, buffalo, and others. Although these horns are paired, they are unbranched. The extended skull bone that forms the horns are covered with keratin sheath and is rough as they lack soft velvet hair. A horn cannot generally be shed as it remains permanent. However, a native of North America, pronghorns are an exception as they shed their horns after every few months.While horns are chiefly used to manifest social dominance, territorialism, and as a defense against predators, the antlers find use in wooing the females during the breeding season. Both antler and horn have been utilized in producing numerous objects. Antlers have been used as decorative trophies and for making tools and weapons. Do you know that the antlers of a deer are edible? Antlers have found their way to the food as well as medicine industry. You can use the antlers of a deer to make gelatin at home! You just need to boil the ground antlers and discard the remnants by straining the liquid. You can even make jellies or use them for baking cookies and cake as they are excellent baking agents.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for animals with horns, then why not take a look at fastest animals in the world, or animals that eat grass.
All animals possess some exclusive features that offer them a distinct identity - some species have huge droopy ears, some possess large eyes, while others have a horn.
