Question

Hollow horns occur in
a. Deer
b. Giraffe
c. Buffalo
d. All the above

Answer 1

A horn is a pointed projection on the head of animals. They are permanent in nature and are made up of a live bone which is surrounded by a layer of keratin and proteins. The horns of antlers are non-permanent whereas in case of mammals they are true.

Complete answer:
To solve this question, we must know about the types of horns present in these animals.

In case of mammals the true horns are present in the family Bovidae. This is the cattle family which comprises goats, cows and buffalo. In case of buffalo, the horn arises from subcutaneous connective tissue and fuse to the underlying frontal bone. It is a hollow cap which grows over a bone like a core.

In deer, they have deciduous horns called the antlers. These are not true horns and are made up of bone. They become dead bone after being fully developed. They are only present in the adults and are shed each year.

In giraffes- They have one or more pairs of the bony bump called the ossicones that are present on their head. They are covered with skin.

So we can conclude that the hollow bones are present in the cattle.
Hence the correct answer is option (c).

Note: The animals use their horns for the purpose of defending themselves from the enemies. They also use the horn for fighting with the members of the same species for mate, territory or dominance. The horns are mostly present in the males. Some animals also use horns for cooling purposes.