Animals / rhinoceros-horn-structure
Facts about Rhinoceros Horn Structure
- 05
Calcium and melanin deposits concentrated near the base of rhinoceros horn contribute to its structural hardness and resistance to wear.
- 04
The dense, tightly packed keratin fibers in rhinoceros horn are arranged in a matrix reinforced with melanin deposits, which darken the horn's core.
- 03
A rhinoceros horn grows continuously throughout the animal's life, with the front horn typically growing longer than any secondary horn behind it.
- 02
Unlike bone, a rhinoceros horn has no bony core and is not attached to the skull, sitting instead on a roughened patch of skin.
- 01
Rhinoceros horn is composed entirely of keratin, the same fibrous protein that makes up human fingernails and hair.