Page 186 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Horns and antlers

The bony knobs on the nose of
Megacerops were bigger in males and
were probably used for fighting rivals. Arsinoitherium
The rise of mammals Megacerops These massive

paired horns were
extensions of the
bony skull.

The antlers of
males broke off at this
point every year after the
fall mating season Megaloceros
and regrew in spring.

SUPERSIZED ANTLERS

Megaloceros
At up to 10 ft (3 m) long, and with huge
antlers, a bull moose is the largest living
deer. Megaloceros was about the same size,
but its antlers were twice the span and
weighed up to 88 lb (40 kg). These antlers Bull moose
would have grown from nothing to full size
in about 5 months, making them the
fastest-growing animal organ.

Many of the big plant-eating mammals that definitely for fighting with their own kind
replaced the giant dinosaurs had spectacular or simply showing off. Among many modern
horns and other structures on their heads. mammals, possessing the biggest set of horns
Some, like the long, sharp horns of Pelorovis, is a mark of high status, ensuring breeding
may have helped the animals defend themselves success. There is no reason why extinct
184 against hungry predators. But others were mammals would be any different. Since

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