Top 20 List of Animals With Horns 2024

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Are you interested in knowing the animals with horns? If yes, you are at the right place. Today, we will explain in detail about animals with different types of horns, such as horned animals, animals with long horns, animals with short horns, and much more. Let’s begin! 

What are Horns? 

Horns are rugged and curled structures on the heads of hoofed animals. Horns grow in pairs. They are permanent bony structures that are surrounded by keratin. Keratin is the same protein that makes up the hair and nails of humans as well. 

The horns of an animal begin to grow right after its birth and continue to grow the whole life. Horns are present in both male and female animals. The horns are usually more extensive and more significant in more giant species, and they might remain absent in females of smaller animal species. 

What are the different types of horns? 

The animals have different types of horns. Horns vary in shape and size, adapted to the needs and environment of different species. The main types of horns are: 

Bovine Horns: 

The members of the Bovidae family possess true horns.  Their horns are often curled, curved or spiral. The Bovine horns are never branched. Some members of the Bovidea family are sheep, goats, cows etc. 

Rhino Horns: 

The horns of the rhino don’t have the bony core. They are entirely made of keratin knitted closely. 

Giraffe Horns: 

Many Giraffes often have three horn-like bony projections on their head, known as ossicones. Ossicones are coated in the layer of the head and skin. The giraffe Horns are also paired and permanent. They also don’t form branches like bovine horns. 

Horns of Pronghorns: 

Pronghorns are a mixture of both horns and antlers. They’re neither true horns nor true antlers.  The horns are composed of keratin, just like bovine horns, but they shed annually like antlers and regrows. Pronghorns are related to antelope and goats. 

What Animals Have Horns? 

Many animals have horns or horn-related structures; however, true horns are present only in hooved animals. Particularly in the families Bovidea and Antilocapridae. True Horns is actually a bony core covered by a keratinised sheath. 

All antelopes, cattle, bison, buffalo, and goat-antelopes, such as sheep, goats, muskoxen, and ibexes, are included in the Bovidae family. On the other hand, the family Antilocapridae contains only one living species: the pronghorn. 

List of Horned Animals: 

Here is a list of animals with horns:

• African Buffalo
• Addax
• Alpine Ibex
• American Bison
• Blackbuck
• Blue Sheep (Bharal)
• Bighorn Sheep
• Cattle
• Elk
• Four-Horned Antelope
• Gaur (Indian Bison)
• Gemsbok
• Giant Eland
• Greater Kudu
• Horned Desert Viper
• Impala
• Jackson’s Chameleon
• Markhor
• Mouflon
• Nubian Ibex
• Pronghorn
• Scimitar Oryx
• Royal Antelope
• Saiga
• Water Buffalo
• Wild Water Buffalo (Asian Water Buffalo)

African Buffalo: 

The African buffalo is a long-bodied, powerful animal. The formidable horns of the African Buffalo are joined in the middle to form a bony shield known as “boss.” The African buffalo is widely recognised because of the most significant distance between the tips of its curved horns, which is 1.64 m/5.38 ft. 

African Buffalo is one of the most dangerous animal species in Africa. It’s a short-tempered and unpredictable animal. According to research, it is the cause of more than 200 human fatalities each year. 

Addax:

The addax is native to the Sahara Desert. It is also known as Screwgotn antelope because of its long and spiralled horns. Today, this species is critically endangered in the world. 

Addax is known for surviving an extended period away from the water because it gets all the water it needs from plants. The pale coat of Addax reflects the sun’s heat. 

Addax is known for its distinctive appearance. The addax possesses long, twisted horns that can grow up to 1 meter (3.28 feet) in length. Its horns curve gracefully backwards, contributing to its striking profile.

Alpine Ibex:

Alpine Ibex is one of the five species of ibex. The Alpine Ibex is found in the Italian Alps. It lives on the rocky slopes above the treeline. The Alpine Ibex has exceptionally long, curved and ridged horns. 

American Bison/ Buffalo 

The American buffalo is one of the most iconic species in North America. It has the most prominent weight and highest length in the whole continent. It makes the American bison the largest land animal. 

The heaviest recorded American bison weighed 1270kg/2800lb. It’s the same as a modern compact family car. 

Both male and female American bison have horns. The length of the horns can reach upto 2 ft/61 cm. 

The American bison is also known as buffalo, while it’s not closely related to true buffalo. 

Blackbuck:

Blackbuck are medium-sized antelopes that belong to the Bovidae family. They were first domesticated thousands of years ago. Despite variations in size and appearance among populations, they all belong to the same species, Antilope cervicapra. Blackbucks are native to the Indian subcontinent. 

Blackbucks are known for their distinctive colouration. The male blackbucks have striking dark brown to black coats and spiral horns, while female blackbuck and young males are usually fawn-coloured and lack prominent horns. 

Blackbucks have been valued for their speed and agility and inhabit grasslands and open woodlands. Males use their horns in displays of dominance and during mating season battles. 

Blue Sheep/ Bharal: 

Bharal is also known as blue Sheep. Bharal is a goat-like animal commonly found in the Himalayas mountain range of Asia. 

The blue Bharal is a strong animal. It can tolerate extreme weather conditions. It lives in large flocks in meadows above the treeline. 

The Bharal is a member of the Bovidae subfamily Caprinae. The male bharals have beautiful, impressive, rigid horns curved outwards and backward. The female bharals have comparatively shorter and straight horns.  The length of the horns of the female blue Sheep is 20cm/7.9 inches. 

The main predator of the blue Sheep or Bharal is the snow leopard. 

Bighorn Sheep:

Bighorn sheep are named after the long horns of the male bighorn sheep. The female bighorn sheep also have horns, but they are short and less curved. The horns are used as a “battering ram” in fights for dominance. 

Cattle: 

Cattle are large bovids that were first domesticated around 10,500 years ago. Although there is significant variation in the size and appearance of living cattle, all are the same species, Bos taurus. Domestic cattle have been bred for a variety of traits. It includes size, milk production, and meat quality, with some breeds having impressive horn spans.

Elk:

Elk are large members of the Cervidae family. They were first domesticated thousands of years ago. Although there is considerable variation in the size and appearance of elk across different regions, they all belong to the same species, Cervus canadensis.

Elk are native to North America and eastern Asia. They have been historically valued for their meat, antlers, and hides. 

Male elk, known as bulls, have impressive antlers that shed and regrow yearly. These antlers are used in fights for dominance during the mating season.

Four-Horned Antelope:

The four-horned antelope is quite unique among horned animals. It features four horns instead of the usual two. Another notable four-horned species is the Jacob sheep, an English breed.

The antelope’s hind horns are between its ears, while the front pair is on its forehead. The front horns can reach a maximum length of 5 cm (1.97 in.), but they are significantly shorter than the hind horns, which are more than twice their length. Only males possess horns.

The four-horned antelope inhabits forest environments in India and Nepal.

Gaur/ Indian Bison: 

The Gaur is the world’s largest living horned animal. The males of Indian Bison are 25% heavier than females. The males probably reached a weight of over 1500 kg/ 3307 lb. 

Both male and female Indian Bison have horns. The length of horns in male bison reaches up to 1.15 meters or 3.77 ft. 

Indian bison have very few predators because of their tremendous size and strength. It is usually found in South and Southeast Asia. 

Gemsbok 

The gemsbok, a powerful antelope, belongs to the genus Oryx. It is commonly referred to as the South African oryx. Usually, among animals with Horns, female gemsbok often have longer horns than males. These antelopes are well-adapted to harsh desert environments. They can elevate their body temperature to minimise sweating and conserve water.

Giant Eland:

The giant eland is the largest antelope species. It is known for its spiral horns and a unique dewlap hanging from its throat. This antelope inhabits forests and savannas in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. The giant Eland is the world’s largest antelope because its length reaches 2.9m / 9.51 ft and weight of upto 1200kg/2650 lb. 

Giant Eland is a distinctive species. It has a reddish-brown coat with narrow vertical stripes. Both male and female giant Eland have horns, but males’ horns are almost twice the length of the females. The horns of Eland reach upto 1.23m /4.04, fit in size and are spiralled. Its horns have a unique “corkscrew” like appearance. 

Greater Kudu:

The greater kudu boasts some of the most striking horns in the animal kingdom. It is characterised by its long, pointed, and gently spiralled shape. A mature male’s horns typically have 2.5 twists and exceed 1 meter (3.28 feet) in length. 

Impala: 

Impalas are social animals, often found in herds of up to 100 individuals. Impalas, when threatened, leap repeatedly to confuse predators. This elegant antelope is native to eastern and southern Africa. It resides in light woodlands and savannas. The horns of the male Impala are rigid and spiralled. The females of impala lack horns. 

Jackson’s Chameleon:

The male Jackson’s chameleon is known for its three prominent horns, two above the eyes and one on the nose. It gives it a triceratops-like appearance. Females typically lack these horns or have much smaller ones.

This striking reptile is native to the Jackson’s chameleons and is an adept climber. They have prehensile tails and zygodactylous feet that help them navigate trees and shrubs. The Jackson’s chameleons largely live a solitary life. These chameleons are territorial. 

One of the distinctive features of Chameleon is that they vividly change their colour in response to their environment, mood, and social interactions. Chameleons can inflate their bodies when threatened and pretend to appear more intimidating.

Markhor:

Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. The Markhor is a member of the genus Capra. It is commonly found in South Asia. It lives on high altitudes in mountains, especially Karakorum and Himalayan. The males of Markhor had cork-screw-shaped horns. Because of this unique feature, Markhor is also known as a “ screw horn”. Natural predators of the markhor include wolves, snow leopards, and Eurasian lynxes.

Mouflon:

The mouflon is a wild sheep that belongs to the genus Ovis. It is thought to be the ancestor of all domestic sheep.

Mouflons inhabit various countries in West Asia, including Turkey, Iran, and Armenia, primarily living in mountainous areas.

The horns of Mouflon are powerful, growing outwards and curving around in an almost complete revolution. 

Nubian Ibex: 

The Nubian Ibex is a member of the goat genus Capra. It’s found in desert mountains, especially in Africa and the Middle East. It’s adept at climbing steep rocky slopes. Nubian Ibex has long, heavily ridged and backward curving horns. The horns of Nubian Ibex reach a length of 1m/ 3.28 ft. Natural predators of the Nubian ibex include leopards, wolves, and red foxes.

Pronghorn:

The pronghorn is the sole surviving member of the family Antilocapridae. Commonly referred to as the “American antelope,”. It is more closely related to giraffes and okapis than to antelopes. Named for the unique prong-like projection on the male’s horns, the pronghorn’s horns differ from those of bovids. They feature a keratinous sheath that is shed and regrown annually.

The Pronghorn runs at a speed of 88.5km/hour. It makes Pronghorn the third fastest land animal in the world. The first one is the Cheetah, and the second is the ostrich. 

Scimitar Oryx:

Up to a million scimitar oryx are believed to have inhabited the Sahara Desert in Africa between 9,500 and 4,500 years ago. Currently, this species is extinct in the wild and exists only in captivity. The number of species has declined, mainly because of overhunting and habitat loss. 

The scimitar oryx is distinguished by its long, slender, slightly curved horns. The Scimitar Oryx has the longest horns among oryx species, measuring up to 1.2 meters (3.94 feet). When viewed from the side, these horns create the illusion of a single horn, potentially contributing to the legend of unicorns.

Royal Antelope:

The royal antelope holds the title of the smallest antelope species in the world, measuring only 25 cm (10 inches) tall at the shoulder. This diminutive antelope is native to the Upper Guinea Forest of western Africa. The males possess remarkably short horns, reaching a maximum length of just 3 cm (1.18 inches).

Saiga:

The saiga is an antelope native to Asia’s steppes (dry grassland) and deserts. It is specifically found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan.

Only male saigas possess horns. The horns of male Saiga are unique because of their ringed shape.  During mating season, competing males engage in battles for control over groups of females, referred to as “harems.”

While its appearance may seem unusual, the saiga antelope’s distinctive nose is an adaptation that aids survival in its harsh steppe environment. The large nostrils help filter dust, cool the animal in summer, and warm the air it breathes in winter.

Historically, saigas roamed in large herds, but intensive hunting reduced their numbers to just one thousand individuals. Today, the species is critically endangered.

Water Buffalo:

Water buffalo are domestic animals in Asia and many other parts of the world. It’s believed that Water Buffalo has evolved from the wild Water Buffalo, Bubalus arnee. The water Buffalo belongs to the cattle family Bovidae. The water Buffalo is very beneficial to mankind. It’s a source of meat and milk. It is also used to pull farm machinery. 

Wild Water Buffalo/ Asian Water Buffalo: 

The wild Water Buffalo, also known as the Asian buffalo, is found commonly in southern Asia. As the name indicates, the species is often found near water. It is typically found in grasslands, forests and woodlands near rivers. 

The wild Water Buffalo has the longest horns, reaching upto the length of 2m / 6.56ft. The wild Water Buffalo is one of the 

heaviest animals with horns. 

Which animal has the longest horns? 

Wild Water Buffalo is the animal with the longest horns. The horns of wild Water Buffalo, also known as Asian buffalo, reach an amazing length of 2 meters/6.5 ft when measured along the outside edges. 

Which animal has the shortest Horns?

Royal Antelope is the animal with the shortest Horns. The horns of the royal Antelope reach a maximum length of just 3cm / 1.18 inches. 

Which animal has the most Horns?

The animal with the most horns is the “Four-Horned Antelope”. It is a small antelope found in India and Nepal. Another animal with the most horns is “ Jacob Sheep”. It’s a British breed of domestic sheep. 

Animal with Horns: That aren’t True Horns:

In the animal kingdom, many species have structures that resemble horns but are not considered actual horns. Here are some examples:

Rhino:

Rhinoceroses have horns made of keratin, the same material as human nails and hair, rather than bone. These horns grow throughout the rhino’s life and are used for defence, dominance battles, and digging for water. 

Giraffe and Okapi:

Giraffes and okapis possess ossicones, horn-like structures covered in skin and fur. Ossicones are made of ossified cartilage rather than bone and are used in dominance fights among males and for thermoregulation.

Deer:

Deer have antlers, which differ from true horns in several vital ways. Antlers are made entirely of bone, branched, shed, and regrown annually. Males primarily use them during mating season to battle rivals and attract females.

Why do Animals have Horns? 

Horns serve various purposes for different animals, playing crucial roles in their survival and daily activities. Horns have three primary purposes: to be used as a weapon, for display, and as a rudimentary scraping and digging tool animals with horns. 

Here are some of the critical functions of horns according to their purpose: 

• Defence:
• Dominance:
• Mating: 
• Foraging:
• Heat Dissipation: 
• Shelter and Shade: 
• Snow Removal: 
• Sensory Function:
•  Water Acquisition: 
•  Tool Use:

Animals with Tusks: 

Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth. Examples include: 

• Elephants
• Walruses
• Narwhals
• Warthogs

Animals with Antlers: 

Antlers are branched structures made of bone that are shed and regrown annually. Examples include:

• Deer
• Elk
• Moose
• Caribou/Reindeer

Horns vs Antlers: 

More info: Top 10 Small Birds You Can Spot in Your Backyard 2024

FAQs:

Do female animals have Horns? 

Yes, in many species, both males and females have horns. However, the size and shape can vary between genders, with males often having larger and more elaborate horns.

What animal starts with y? 

The “yak” is an animal that starts with the letter Y. 

Which African Animals with Horns? 

African animals with horns include the African buffalo, greater kudu, impala, and addax.

Name the animals with long horns.

Animals with long horns include the scimitar-horned oryx, wild water buffalo, and greater kudu.

Which Animal has only one horn?

The Indian rhinoceros has a single horn on its snout. 

Do sea animals have horns?

Sea animals do not have true horns. However, some marine creatures, like narwhals, have tusks resembling horns.

Name the animals having spiral horns.

Animals with spiral horns include the greater kudu, markhor, and giant eland.

Which animals have small horns?

Animals with small horns include the royal antelope and the four-horned antelope.

What are the names of deer-liked animals with horns? 

Deer-like animals with horns include antelopes such as the impala and blackbuck.

Which animals have straight horns?

Animals with straight horns include the gemsbok and oryx. 

Which mountain animals have horns? 

Mountain animals with horns include the Alpine ibex, markhor, and blue sheep.

How are tusks different from Horns?

Tusks are elongated teeth made of ivory, continuously growing, and typically found in animals like elephants and walruses. Horns are permanent structures of a bony core covered in keratin and found in animals like cattle and antelopes.