Many wild animals have horns. They serve various purposes, including defense against predators and foraging in the tall grass. Horned animals are herbivores, so their horns are mainly for protection. Others use their horns to fight or show dominance over other competitors in a given area.
Here is a list of 20 animals with horns.
1. Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a wild mammal that lives mainly in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of North America. The horns are curved and grow from the forehead, curved sideways outwards.
They can be as long as one ft. and are used for display and combat. This sheep’s habitat is typically very steep and rocky, so its survival depends upon the strength of its horns. They are gregarious and live in small bands, so protecting the flock is essential.
2. Moose
Moose are large mammals that can grow up to over a thousand pounds. They are mainly found in the northern regions of Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, though they were once native to many areas of the northeast United States. Their horns differ in appearance, depending on the age and gender of the moose.
Males have large tines growing out of their ears, with an open space in between, which is used as a resonating chamber. This helps them communicate when they are fighting or mating. Females have smaller horns, with their tines more closely set together.
3. Sambar Deer
Sambar deer horns are shaped like a spiral with twisted, flattened branches. These deer have small, round ears. The Sambar deer is endemic to the Indonesian island of Samba. When they are in danger, they run around in a circle or bound away, which helps them to escape enemies. The Sambar deer is listed as vulnerable.
4. Fallow deer
The fallow deer is a small species native to western Europe, especially in the woodlands of England and Scotland. Its antlers are branched and shed yearly, making way for new growth.
The antlers are made of bone, covered with a thin layer of keratin. The fallow deer is the largest species amongst the roe deer. Males have an average weight of about 200 pounds, while females weigh approximately 150 pounds.
5. Red Deer
The red deer is a species native to much of Asia, Europe, and the northern parts of Africa. These deer have antlers, usually around 4 inches wide and a maximum length of 6 feet.
The antlers are branched, and only males grow them. Female red deer typically do not grow antlers during their lifetimes. Red deer live in herds, as it helps protect them from predators.
6. Manx Loaghtan
The Manx Loaghtan is a breed of domestic goat. It has small horns, which are usually brown. The Manx Loaghtan originated from the Isle of Man off the coast of England and has been developed for its soft, pale brown hair and long mane. The horns are about 1 foot long and have a base length of about 4 inches.
7. Texas Longhorn
The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle. It has long horns wide at the base and then tapers off to a point. The horns spread wide at their base, so when the animal runs through the brush, the ends of the horns grab onto tree limbs and stop them from getting tangled up.
Longhorns were first bred in Mexico and Texas in the late 1600s. The Spanish brought them to North America for use as work animals.
They are believed to be one of the most common cattle breeds in Mexico today.
8. Kudu
The kudu is a large African antelope that lives both in open savannas and woodlands. It is the second largest African antelope, with the upper male reaching up to 6 feet in height and the females reaching about 4 feet.
The kudu has long horns with a curved shape. They serve as weapons against predators and also for display during mating season.
9. American Bison
The Bison is a large, hairy species of cattle that can be found in North America. They are herbivores and eat grass, twigs, and leaves. The bull’s horns are the largest of all bovines and can reach over 48 inches in length.
Males use them for competition when mating with females in the fall. There are two types of Bison: wood and plains.
10. Oryx
Oryx are large antelope that are native to Africa. Their beautiful, spiraling horns curve backward, asymmetrically. They are often used for decoration and as weapons in battle.
Oryx have large ears and long faces, which is why their horns curve backward. They have been around from the time of the dinosaurs, and they can reach up to 3 feet in length, 4 feet in height, and weigh a few hundred pounds. Their horns are their primary defense against predators.
11. Common eland
The eland is a huge, shaggy antelope that lives in the savannahs of Africa. They are often referred to as “elk,” but this is a common misconception. They are part of a different family within the deer family, which includes moose and elk/wapiti (the same animal as the Alaska brown bear).
Their horns are unique, growing from two or three points and curving backward in gentle arcs. Mothers use their horns to protect their calves.
12. Deer
Deer have antlers on their head, which are used for display, fighting off enemies, and scaring predators. They can also use them to hook their enemies or branches to pull themselves up.
Males have large antlers, while females’ antlers are smaller. Some antlers shed and regrow each year, while others are permanent. Deer also have a small knob on their forehead called a spearhead which males use to fight each other during mating season.
The deer shed these antlers yearly, so they grow new ones next year.
13. Ankole long horned Cow
Ankole long-horned cows are native to the Ankole sub-region of Africa.
They are a breed of cattle that have larger horns than domestic cows. These cows are used in beef products and pull carts and for rearing beef calves. They are also very docile, so they don’t have to fight much when competing for food and mates.
14. Rhinoceros
The Rhinoceros is a large herbivore mammal that lives in Africa. It has powerful limbs and a huge horn on its nose, which it uses to fight other African animals, like Wildebeest and Buffaloes.
When threatened by predators, it can charge and use its horns as a weapon. Both males and females have horns, which they use during fighting season to determine which animal will have access to the best breeding areas.
15. Fallow deer
The fallow deer is a type of deer found across Eurasia. They have white manes, which they use to attract mates and defend themselves from other males during mating season.
Their antlers are shed yearly, so they grow new ones next year. They can be used for food and hides.
17. Reindeer
When most people think of Santa Claus, reindeer often come to mind. In reality, there are many species of reindeer, including the caribou, tundra reindeer (swamp deer), and the Siberian musk deer.
These deer are used as both foods and for their hides. They use their horns for digging in the snow, breaking the ice, and even combat with other males.
18. Water Buffalo
The water buffalo is a large bovine animal widespread throughout Southeast Asia. They are used for labor and the production of dairy products and meat.
They live in herds, which protect each other from vicious predators, such as wild dogs, crocodiles, and tigers. The male’s horns are long
and curved forward to defend them from crocodiles when crossing rivers.
Adult males have a pair of horns that can grow up to 3 feet long each. The females are much smaller.
19. Ibex
Ibexes are wild goats that live in mountainous areas of Europe and Asia.
Their horns can be 4 feet long, though they are not always symmetrical, and sometimes only one has a curve. The horns display defense and territorial combat with other males during the mating season. They are also the source of some human medicines since ibexes have adapted to high altitudes. The main predators of ibex are wolves, eagles, leopards, and bears.
20. Buffalo
This large mammal has horns, which it uses to defend itself and gain access to grazing areas. It can also use its horns to ram other buffalos or large animals so they can move out of the way.
Males are larger than females and have larger horns, which they use during fighting season to determine which buffalo will mate with the most females during mating season in the fall.
Conclusion
Horns are found on males in most species of animals. They fight, attract mates, and protect them from predators. When most people think of horns, they immediately associate them with cows and buffalo. However, many other species also use horns, such as deer, elk, and moose.
Other uses for horns include:
- Use them to decorate our homes.
- Using them to make some forms of musical instruments.
- Using them in medicinal practices.
After reading this article, don’t you think you will look at horns a little differently the next time you see one?