Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: charli on 09/06/2021 08:02:22
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Mohammed muses:
"How did horns evolve in mammals and other species and what evolutionary advantage does it give to such animals?"
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Horns are Nature's boxing gloves, evolved so that fights between males can be resolved without a lethal outcome.
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Horns and antlers are very different.
Horns are made out of Keratin, similar to claws and fingernails. Likely evolved as a claw in the scalp.
Antlers are more related to bone.
Between species, horns and antlers would have evolved as a way to protect themselves.
Within a species, they are often part of a show of strength of males as part of a mating ritual.
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Easier to explain may be tusks - these are enlarged and modified teeth, more often larger in males.
Some are spectacular, like elephants and mammoths
- Some are mysterious - like the arctic narwhal's spiral "unicorn". Scientists have been wondering what they are for (apart from the expected male competition), but some marine biologists recently saw an unexpected use: fishing.
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Horns are Nature's boxing gloves
Specifically, they are the spikey sort of boxing gloves...