Animal Horns

Animal horns are growths that rigidly protrude from the heads of many species of animals, such as cows, goats, sheep, antelopes, and rhinoceroses. These hard, pointed structures are composed of a hard material called keratin, which is the same material that makes up human hair and fingernails. Horns play an important role in many animals’ lives, both as a means of protection from predators and as a tool for fighting over mates. They also have great symbolic value, appearing prominently in the myths and literature of many cultures. Horns of various animal species are also used in some ancient and modern medicines, with some cultures using them for their purported healing powers.