What happens to baby oryx horns?
Baby oryx are born with small, soft horns. Over time, as they grow bigger and stronger, their horns lengthen.
Why do horns grow?
- Size and strength: Growing horns helps the oryx defend themselves and compete as they become adults.
- Bones and horns: The horns are made of bone and slowly grow from the base, just like our hair grows from a root.
- Age cue: Longer horns usually mean the oryx is older and more mature.
How does it happen?
- The horn grows from a living tissue at the skull called the horn core.
- New layers are added over time, making the horn longer and thicker.
- Horns stop growing when the animal stops growing in size, usually when it reaches adulthood.
Fun fact
Just like you might grow taller over the years, the oryx horn growth shows how the animal changes as it grows up.