 Reference Base  The mammals of the southern African subregion, new edition |
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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Morphology - Horn |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
The horns are composed of a mass of tubular filaments, similar in substance to hair. They grow from the skin and are not attached to the underlying bone, but the bony surface of the skull is rugose under the bases of the horns to allow a firm attachment of the skin to the skull in these areas.
The shape of the horns also depends upon the habitat. Horns in Kaokoveld for example are much straighter than those in Zululand, presumably as a result of different wear patterns.
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