What's the difference between antlers and horns?

[GabeC 10+ year member]

Horn:

Antler:

this

 

[billjones42 10+ year member]

horns are made of a-keratin (the molecules that are found in hair and nails).
antlers are made of bonematerial.

the material that the horns/antlers are made of are the biggest difference; other than the obvious difference in physical appearance.

No, the biggest difference is antlers are shed yearly and horns aren't.

/thread.

 

[MTXman 10+ year member]

so you're saying what they're made of isnt more important that whether or not they are shed? lol okay...

Physical appearance would have to be the main difference.. I mean come on.. its a horn.. or an antler lol...

 

[rusty_armadillo 10+ year member]

Horns go under your dash and antlers go on top of deer.

 

[mattf 5,000+ posts]

Antlers are the same material all the way though and shed every year and horns are like a shell over (whatever is inside them). Horns are kind of like a sheath over a knife.

 

[mattf 5,000+ posts]

Read here.

 

[billjones42 10+ year member]

Well, to sum up the basic differences: Horns are permanent, usually contain a bony core and keratin (the fingernail stuff.) Horns can adorn both male and female animals and are unbranched. Some animals with horns include cattle, bison and goats. Antlers are made of a bony substance, not keratin. They are shed and regrown every year. Generally, only males have antlers. Some animals with antlers include deer and moose.