Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993                   TAG: 9311180091
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HORNS AND ANTLERS ARE A VITAL PART OF ANIMALS' WELL-BEING

Antlers and horns, which are not the same things, grow in many shapes and sizes. Certain animals only grow horns. Others grow antlers exclusively.

Antlers are shed annually. Horns are a permanent part of the animal and do not fall off.

Horns are hollow bony structures covered with sheaths of keratin. This is the same substance as fingernails, claws, beaks and hooves. The hard outer surface covers a soft lining. Horns grow throughout an animal's life and are permanent. Horns vary in size and shape and can be flat, round, short, long, curve or straight, depending upon this animal.

Cattle, oxen, sheep and goats all have horns. Although both sexes grow horns, the females' are usually shorter and more slender. A few animal are exceptions and fall into classes by themselves. The pronghorn has single curving prong. Annually it sheds its horn sheath, and a new covering grows over the bony center.

The rhinoceros' ferocious-looking structure actually isn't a horn. It is made of tightly compacted hairlike fibers attached to the animal's skin, instead of to its skull.

Unlike horns, antlers branch into one or more points. Usually the males sprout them, however some female animals can too. Only members of the deer family have true antlers. Male elk, deer and moose and male and female caribou and reindeer all have antlers.

Antlers are solid, bony structures that grow from permanent bases or pedicels on the front portion of the skull just above the eyes.

Antler are grown and shed annually. Antler growth is one of the fastest examples of animal growth known. The complete growth cycle takes five months. Now, in autumn, the antlers are at their finest. By mid-winter animals lose their antlers, and by spring new set of antlers is already sprouting.

After the antlers drop off, one at time, two tiny red spots are left. These form into hard bony buttons called pedicels. Eventually these become clubs or stump-like growths covered with dark fuzzy skin called velvet. The velvet contains blood vessels that carry nourishment to the growing antlers. When the growing antlers are in velvet the animal must be extremely careful. At this time the antlers are very delicate and can be easily damaged. Antlers can grow malformed if the velvet is disturbed in any way.

Once the antlers are full grown the velvet dries up, and they become hard and sturdy. The velvet shrivels up and is peeled off as the animal rubs its new antlers against the trees and bushes.

Animals drop their antlers each year, yet it is uncommon to find these cast-offs. Mice, squirrels and other rodents chew on them and gain essential nutrients, such as calcium and salt.

Memo: ***CORRECTION***