Many animals have impressive headgear, leading to confusion between antlers and horns. This article clarifies the biological differences between these structures and specifically addresses what moose grow.
Antlers Versus Horns: The Key Differences
Antlers and horns are distinct biological structures found on the heads of certain mammals, differing in their composition, growth patterns, and permanence. Antlers are true bone structures that grow from bony pedestals on the skull, known as pedicles. They are characteristic of the Cervidae family, including deer, elk, and moose. Antlers are shed and regrown annually, with new growth emerging each spring. While growing, antlers are covered in a soft, vascularized skin called velvet, which provides blood supply for rapid bone development.
In contrast, horns are permanent structures found on animals in the Bovidae family, such as cattle, goats, and sheep. A horn consists of a bony core that extends from the skull, covered by a sheath made of keratin, the same material found in human hair and fingernails. Horns are not shed and grow continuously throughout an animal’s life. Unlike antlers, horns are typically unbranched.
Moose: Possessors of Antlers
Moose possess antlers, not horns. As members of the deer family (Cervidae), male moose grow and shed these structures each year. Antlers are composed entirely of bone, growing as extensions from the skull.
Moose antlers have a distinctive palmate, or shovel-like, shape. They can reach up to six feet in width and weigh as much as 40 pounds. During their rapid growth phase, moose antlers are covered in velvet, which supplies blood to the developing bone. This velvet is eventually shed, revealing the hardened bone underneath.
The Antler Cycle and Purpose
The growth and shedding of moose antlers follow an annual cycle driven by hormonal changes and seasonal cues. Antlers typically begin to grow in the spring, rapidly developing throughout the summer. This growth is fueled by a blood supply within the velvet. As autumn approaches, hormonal shifts cause the velvet to dry and peel off, often aided by the moose rubbing its antlers against trees and shrubs.
Once hardened and free of velvet, the antlers serve several biological functions during the fall breeding season, known as the rut. Antlers are primarily used for display, attracting females by signaling the male’s health and genetic fitness. They are also important for male-on-male competition, allowing bulls to spar and establish dominance. While less common, antlers can also provide a measure of defense against predators. After the rut, typically in late winter or early spring, the antlers are shed.