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Horn (anatomy)
*** Shopping-Tip: Horn (anatomy)
Image:HighlandCow.01.jpg right|thumb|200px|[[Highland cattle|Highland cow, a very old long-horned breed from
Scotland.]]
A '''horn''' is a hollow, pointed projection of the
skin of various
animals., consisting mainly of
keratin as well as other
proteins. True horns are found only among the
ruminant artiodactyls, in the families
Antilocapridae (
pronghorn) and
Bovidae (
cows,
buffaloes,
yaks,
goats,
antelope etc.). Those animals have one or two pairs of horns, which usually have a
spiral shape.
The term is popularly applied also to any hard and pointed elements attached to the head of animals in various other families:
*
Giraffidae:
Giraffes have bony bumps covered with furred skin which look like they ought to have horns on them, but do not.
*
Cervidae: Deer have antlers, which are not true horns. Made of
bone, they are shed and regrown each year.
*
Rhinocerotidae: The "horns" of the
Rhinoceros are made of keratin but are actually compacted
hair, not true horn.
*
Ceratopsidae: The "horns" of the
Triceratops were extensions of its skull bones although debate exists over whether they had a keratin covering.
Many animal species in various families have
tusks, which often serve the same functions as true horns, but are in fact oversize teeth. These include the
Moschidae (Musk deer, which are ruminants),
Suidae (
Wild Boars),
Proboscidea (
Elephants),
Monodontidae (
Narwhals) and
Odobenidae (
Walruses).
Uses of horn
Some peoples use bovid horns as
musical instruments, for example the
shofar. These have evolved into
brass instruments in which, unlike the
trumpet, the bore gradually increases in width through most of its length — that is to say, it is
Cone (solid) conical rather than
cylinder (geometry) cylindrical. These are called
horn (instrument) horns, though made of
metal.
'''
Drinking horns''' are bovid horns cleaned and polished and used as
drinking vessels.
'''
Black powder#History Powder horns''' were originally bovid horns fitted with lids and carrying straps, used to carry
gunpowder. Powder flasks of any material may be referred to as powder horns.
Horn can also refer to
keratin, the material of which a horn is made. This is most common when a horn is used as a material in tools, furniture, decoration, and other uses. In these applications, horn is valued for its hardness, and has given rise to the expression ''hard as horn.''
"Horn"
buttons are usually made from deer antlers, not true horn.
See also
*
horn (disambiguation page)
*
horn (instrument)
*
horned helmet
Category:Animal anatomy
Category:Animal products
de:Horn
es:Cuerno
eo:Korno (osto)
lt:Ragas
ja:角
pt:Corno
*** Shopping-Tip: Horn (anatomy)
