What Are Antlers?
When we think of antlers what comes to mind are bony structures protruding from the heads of various species of animal. But what exactly makes them antlers, not horns? Well, here are the facts: antlers are shed every year and in most cases only males have antlers. Antlers are made from a bone-like material, not from keratin (the stuff our fingernails are made of.) You may have seen pictures of deer or similar animals with antlers covered in a soft, fuzzy material. This substance is called ‘velvet’ and is important in the growth of antlers. As they grow in each year, the velvet covering provides blood and nutrients to the growing antler. Once the antlers have fully grown in, the velvet peels off leaving only the bony antler behind.
• In the majority of deer species, like fallow deer, only the males have antlers. These are used as weapons during the rut and are symbols of rank. • Whilst growing antlers are covered in a soft and furry skin called velvet; veins beneath the velvet supply blood to the developing antler. • When growth is complete in late August, the velvet dries and peels off leaving an antler of hard bone. These are carried until the following spring when they are cast and replaced by a larger set the following year.
Antlers are bony growths on the heads of more than 60 kinds of deer, including moose, reindeer, caribou, and elk. Antlers grow only on male deer, moose, and elk, who use them as weapons to fight other males for leadership of the herd or for possession of a mate. However, in the caribou and reindeer families, both male and female
