Why the rhino has a curved horn
8 November 2006
by Richard Conan-Davies
The rhino horn is more like a parrot beak than a typical horn according to zoologists at Ohio Univeristy studying the remains of donated rhino horns. Most horns of animals have a bony centre core but the rhino doesn't. The horn is made up entirely of keratin, the stuff your hair and finger nails are made of. “The horns most closely resemble the structure of horses’ hoofs, turtle beaks and cockatoo bills. This might be related to the strength of these materials, although more research is needed in this area,” explained Tobin Hieronymus, doctoral student in biological sciences and lead author on the study. The team discovered that melanin and calcium patches appear in yearly growth surges. The results of the horn growth study may interest conservation groups trying to strengthen rhino populations and reduce the poaching of horn for the black market. |
The centre of the rhino horn has a little extra calcium in it to keep it strong and may also explain why it gets it's curved shape. image: ohio university
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Original press release from Ohio Univeristy
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