Antlers are bony structures that are different from horns. These are specific to most of the male deer species. Some species such as Musk deer and Chinese water deer don’t possess antlers. In animals like reindeer, both males and females develop antlers.
Antlers are the permanent and hard outgrowths of the frontal bone of the skull. These are covered by a hairy skin called velvet, during their breeding period. In most of species, antlers develop when their testes are in a regressed state.
Antlers are used by the female species of the deer for having access to the female partners during their rutting period. Mature males of reindeer have larger and more elaborated antlers as compared to females. They use their antlers for defending their calves and for searching food for their families during the winter season.
After the breeding season, a decline in testosterone is prominent and the cycle of antlers development starts again. The process of antlers’ growth, velvet shedding, and casting are also dependent on the season and photoperiod hours.
The complexity of antlers rises according to age and is also directly related to the body size of the deer. The size and weight of antlers are also related to habitat and surroundings such as availability of food, environmental conditions, and genetics. If a deer fails to grow pedicles it ultimately prevents the growth of antlers.
Hormonal imbalances related to testicular degeneration and castration also result in deformed antlers. Sometimes parasitic infestations are also related to deformities specific to antlers.
Male-specific characteristic
Antlers develop usually at the age of 1 year, but it ranges from 1 year to one and half years in most deer. The male species develop and shed antlers annually.
In the spring season, males develop a new set of antlers usually between march and august. In rare cases, females also develop undergrown antlers.
Difference between antlers and horns
Horns have a lot of differences from antlers. Animals like goats and bison develop horns, but not in the same pattern as antlers do. Horns are made up of keratin but antlers are made up of proper bones. Antlers are shed on annual basis.
Deer shed and grow their antlers on yearly basis. The animals who develop horns, horns will remain intact throughout their life. Deer shed old antlers and develop new ones each year. Antlers are different from horns regarding different parameters and factors.
Many people confuse antlers with horns but they don’t know that deer shed their antlers every year and develop new ones.
Why deer has antlers not horns?
Deer use antlers for fighting purposes and create major wear and tear. The process of shedding antlers each year gives the chance to grow new stronger, and more useful antlers. These bony structures contain large deposits of proteins and water.
After their complete development, they ossify to become a bone-like structure completely. This development is affected by both hormonal and environmental changes. Horns are usually unbranched and permanent; they cannot fall off or replace.
A horn actually has a core of bone that is covered by a keratin sheath. In horned animals, horns grow throughout their lives and become very large in the end but the antlers case is different.
Composition of antlers
Antlers are composed of tissues that are similar to bone in their texture and can resemble honeycomb structures. The pedicles are present at the endpoints of the head of the deer from where the antlers grow. When antlers shed, they usually remove from the pedicles.
The pedicles usually develop in the first year of their life. In the second year, small shafts will form. In the 3rd year, the first branch of antlers appears. Older deer have thicker and strong antlers as compared to younger deer.
In early September, the velvet sheds off. After that, the bucks have hard antlers which are used during the breeding period to show dominancy to females. Antlers are damaged during mating season.
Fighting and stressors contribute in antler damage. With the passage of time, points of antlers break or become blunted.
The growth phase of antlers
Antlers have a covering of velvet which is a soft membranous layer of skin. The function of velvet is to provide nutrients to developing mass. Velvet contains many substances such as minerals, growth factors, amino acids, and proteins.
It also contains growth factor 1 which is similar to insulin at the molecular level. For most of the species of deer, the growth phase lasts for 2 to 4 months. The growth of antlers becomes slower during the summer months when the testosterone level of deer is higher.
During this period, the arteries and veins surrounding the velvet become smaller in size and compromise the supply of nutrients and blood to the antlers. At last, the deer rub their antlers with trees in order to remove velvet and this process is called velvet shedding.
Factors that influence antler growth
Some species develop larger and strong antlers than others, many factors contribute to the strength of the antlers of deer. Genetics also plays an important role in it. A deer with large antlers produce offspring that will grow larger antlers in the future.
Health and food consumption contributes a major role in this regard. If a deer has larger stocks of food, then it will develop stronger and larger antlers. If food for a deer is compromised for one year, then the antlers developed are less strong and less impressive as compared to previous ones. So, food consumption, environmental conditions, and genetics play a major role in antler growth.
Benefits of antlers
To attract females
Males grow antlers mostly to attract their female partners. If a male partner has a larger and dominating set of antlers, it will attract females in that specific area. Males display their antlers in order to attract their females and it will help the process of mating.
Every male dear wanted to be the dominating male of the community or that specific area. The dominating male is the one who has more access to females. There are many ways through which males show their dominancy.
They fight with each other with their antlers locked. In this way, they can win the attention of females in that area. Deer start wrestling with each other when their antlers are locked. It is very tiresome for two deer to untangle each other and cause a problematic situation.
In most cases, both deer died due to the non-availability of food by being stuck to each other. In some cases, one deer kills the partner and tear off his head. This behavior shows how aggressive these bucks are while having a battle between them.
These deer rub their antlers with larger and smaller trees and create marks on them. Males with strong and heavy antlers are considered the best mates for females.
Defensive purpose
Another purpose to have antlers is defensive mode and it protects deer from harm. The defensive purpose is not considered the primary use of antlers, but they use them when they need. If a predator threatens the deer, they are able to use their antlers for their defense.
Sometimes deer hit the predators with their antlers. This happens only when the deer considered themselves in danger.
Males are usually more aggressive during their breeding period and it is called the “rut period”. If a human wants to be close to them, they will feel no hesitation in attacking them.
Helps in searching food
Sometimes deer use their antlers for getting food, especially during the winter season. They can hit trees to get berries and fruits from them. It is considered the most practical approach to getting food.
A good and energetic hit into a tree can leads to access to food items that a deer can eat easily. To have access to food is the most important aspect of deer.
Fruits and berries naturally fall from trees according to time, but deer speed up the process of falling with the help of their powerful antlers. These species show more cleverness in using their antlers in different ways.
Antlers help to stay comfortable
Deer use their antlers in creating a comfortable environment for them. Deer mostly dig the soil with the help of their antlers. They can create a depression in soil and mud. After that deer lie down or roll himself in order to stay calm.
This habit is practical in warm parts of the summer season. These animal use digging habits to keep some dangerous insects away from their area. It is also not a primary objective of antlers but it can be used if it is required. It is a vital approach used by deer to keep themselves cool and calm during harsh environmental conditions.
Medical purposes
The in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that the base of antlers of deer contains anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-osteoporosis, and analgesic effects.
It also contains antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-stress, and hematopoietic modulatory properties. So, antlers are very helpful in managing certain health conditions.
