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Animal lists · 12 entries

Animals With Horns

Horns are permanent, keratin-sheathed bony cores found in bovids such as cattle, antelope and bison — distinct from antlers, which are bone, shed annually and belong to deer alone; see the animals-with-antlers list for that distinction.

Updated 25 July 2026

Horns and antlers are routinely confused. Horns are permanent structures with a bony core sheathed in keratin, found in the family Bovidae — cattle, antelope, sheep and goats. They are not shed. Antlers are bone, grow annually, and belong to deer alone.

This list covers animals with true horns as defined by anatomy, not colloquial usage. Rhino "horns" are compacted hair, not true horns. Giraffe ossicones are bony bumps covered in skin and fur — related but anatomically distinct.

How this list was compiled

Entries are species with true horns — permanent bony cores sheathed in keratin, belonging to Bovidae or equivalent structures in other groups where anatomically defined as horns. Antlers, tusks, ossicones and rhino horn (keratinised hair) are distinguished and not counted as true horns. Sexual dimorphism in horn size is noted. Animals where horn is a colloquial rather than anatomical term are excluded or clarified.

Animals With Horns

  1. African buffalo

    Permanent; both sexes

    Heavy, bossed horns fused at the base forming a shield across the forehead.

  2. Bison

    Permanent; both sexes

    Short, sharp horns on a massive skull. Used in dominance contests rather than predation.

  3. Musk ox

    Permanent; both sexes

    Horns curve downward then outward. Combined with qiviut coat for Arctic defence.

  4. Markhor

    Permanent; corkscrew spiral

    Among the largest horn spans in wild goats — up to 160 cm along the spiral in large males.

  5. Black rhino

    Not true horns — keratin hair

    Rhino horn is compacted keratin hair, not a bony core sheathed in keratin. Colloquially called horns but anatomically different.

  6. Ibex

    Permanent; backward-curving

    Alpine goats with horns used in ritualised head-clashing contests on mountain ledges.

  7. Gazelle

    Permanent; both sexes (most species)

    Slender, ringed horns. Used in display and defence rather than active combat in most species.

  8. Pronghorn

    Permanent sheath; sheds keratin layer

    Unique — the only animal that sheds and regrows the keratin sheath while retaining the bony core. Not a bovid.

  9. Sheep

    Permanent; sexually dimorphic

    Rams have larger, curled horns. Horns grow throughout life, forming growth rings.

  10. Goat

    Permanent; both sexes

    Backward-curving horns in most breeds. Used in dominance displays and defence.

  11. Saiga antelope

    Permanent; unusual bulbous shape

    Distinctive swollen nasal horns. Both sexes have horns; males are larger.

  12. Giraffe ossicone

    Ossicones — not true horns

    Bony bumps covered in skin and fur, present from birth. Anatomically distinct from bovid horns — included because commonly grouped together.

Key facts

  • True horns are permanent bony cores sheathed in keratin, found in bovids — cattle, antelope, sheep and goats.
  • Horns are not shed. Antlers — on deer alone — are shed and regrown annually. See the animals-with-antlers list.
  • Rhino horn is compacted keratin hair, not a true horn with a bony core.
  • Giraffe ossicones are bony skin-covered bumps — anatomically distinct from bovid horns.
  • The pronghorn is unique — it sheds the keratin sheath annually while retaining the bony core.
  • Most horned species use horns for display and dominance contests rather than active predation.

Animals With Horns: frequently asked questions

What animals have horns?
Bovids — cattle, bison, antelope, sheep, goats and musk oxen — have true horns. Pronghorns have a related structure. Rhinos and giraffes have horn-like structures that are anatomically different.
What is the difference between horns and antlers?
Horns are permanent bony cores sheathed in keratin, found in bovids. Antlers are bone, grow annually, are shed each year and belong to deer alone. See the animals-with-antlers list.
Do rhinos have horns?
Colloquially yes, but rhino horn is compacted keratin hair without a bony core — anatomically different from true horns on cattle and antelope.
Do horns grow back if broken?
Partially. The bony core can regrow keratin sheath, but a broken horn does not regenerate its full original shape the way antlers regrow each year.
Which animal has the largest horns?
The markhor and some wild sheep species have horn spirals exceeding 150 cm along the curve. African buffalo have the most massive horn bases, fused into a boss across the forehead.
Do female animals have horns?
In many bovid species, yes — both sexes have horns, though males are typically larger. In some antelope species, only males are horned.

Sources

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