Why are Giraffes horny ? - For some considerable time now I have been troubled by the presence of two horn-like protrusions on the top of the heads of Giraffes. Primarily, I would like to know if they actually have a name (antennae ? horns ? antlers ?..) I would also like to know the reason for these nameless growths… It is keeping me up at night !!!
I can bend minds with my spoon!
melanos,
I know nothing about the libido of garaffes, nor about the horny little growths on thier heads.
But I do like your sig. line.
[ aside to WallyM7 ] Wally, have you been spreading your favors around again ? [/aside to WallyM7}
“Ayesha, Who can bend minds with her spoon” WallyM7
Voted SDMB Biggest Flirt (Female) and Least Shy (No Mom, I have no idea why they think that)
Giraffes have the most primitive types of horns found in living ungulates. Their ossicones (that is the correct term) are morphologically equivalent to the horn cores of the bovids, or the pedicles of the cervids. The bovids grow keratin sheaths over their horn cores, and of course the cervids grow and shed antlers annually from their burrs.
Dr. Fidelius, Charlatan
Associate Curator Anomalous Paleontology, Miskatonic University
Projector Emeritus, Grand Academy of Lagado
“You cannot reason a man out of a position he did not reach through reason.”
Oh, and giraffes use their ossicones to beat the crap out of other giraffes during mating season. When they get that head swinging on that long neck, they can break ribs easily.
Most all horns of ungulates developed for sexual display or combat.
Okay, Dr. Fi…but I betcha you can’t say “horn cores” three times, fast!