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Headgear: Horns, Antlers, and Crests

Check out the amazing things you can find on the heads of animals.

Read It!Headgear story from the September 2025 issue of Ranger Rick Jr.

HORNS

• A horn has only one point. Horns come in many shapes and sizes.
• Horns don’t fall off. They keep growing as long as an animal lives.
• Both males and females grow horns.
• Some animals have horns on their noses rather than the tops of their heads.

ANTLERS

• Antlers have many points and tree-like branches.
• Except for caribou, only male deer grow antlers.
• Animals with antlers grow a new set every spring. They shed their antlers the following winter.
• Growing antlers are covered with fuzzy skin called velvet.
• Antlers can grow as much as an inch a day.

CRESTS

• A crest is a group of fancy, upright feathers found on the heads of many birds.
• A few reptiles have crests on their heads. These crests are made of skin.
• Some reptiles have crests on their backs and tails.
• Animals with crests use them to communicate.
• Many dinosaurs had crests.

 

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