Posted by Paul van on May 15, 2005

Q: Hello! I have a few questions about horns to which I can't find the answers in any literature on the subject. I really hope you can answer them! I know that a horn consists of a keratin sheath covering a bony core. However.. inside the horn, what exactly is between the top-side of this bony core and the inner tip of the horn. Is it a) filled up with solid keratin b) just a hollow space or c) does the bony core reach completely until the inner tip of the horn. Or do we see all these kinds of forms, depending on the species. E.g.: what is the difference in inner structure in he big and curved ibex- or longhornhorns compared to the small,long horns of a waterbuck, or the relatively short curve of a bison. My last question: how does the horn exactly grow: does is grow from the base or also from the side and top of the bony core? If it also grows from this top of the bone (which must have been the case at least when the top is formed), how come it is possible that a hollow space is created above it (that is, if that is the case at all..) Thank you very much if you can provide me with some answers to these questions, I would be very grateful for that!! Greetings from Amsterdam, the Netherlands and compliments for your excellent educative website. Paul

A: Wow, your questions made me really work to find answers! I don't have it all but hope this helps.

Does the growth of the horn occur from the tip or from the base of the horn?

Horns grow from the base. On most horns, you will be able to see new growth as shiny and darker than the rest of the horn.

Is there some kind of material between the bony core and the outer keratin?

There is flesh and blood supply, more at the base and less towards the tip. This is why, in taxidermy, skulls must be boiled and horn caps must be removed so that caps and cores can be cleaned and further prepared before mounting, as there is a fair amount of flesh inside.

Does the inner bony core reach all the way to the outer reaches of a long horn?

The bone core reaches about 2/3 of the way down the horn, though I've seen some individuals with a very thin core reaching almost the entire length.

Are there variations in the inner parts of a horn from a large-horned species as compared with a small-horned species?

Thicker flesh and more blood supply on the larger horns.

I was able to get this info from a source here in the U.S. at:

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Anita Garza

Painted Desert Sheep Society

THE WILD Taxidermy

El Cascabel

www.elcascabel.com

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Thanks for your question. Your English was phenomenal!

John Wiessinger

John Wiessinger ( May 16, 2005)