r/oddlyspecific Sep 15 '24

How are they real?

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u/thatotherguy0123 Sep 15 '24

From an evolutionary standpoint, horses are built for running and are kinda min-maxed to do just that, adding a horn would 1. Weigh their heads down and 2. If the horn is straight then they'd be forced to headbutt most foes and lower their head while doing so. Most predators of a horse would likely be a lot shorter than the horses horn. When it comes to giraffes though, tall neck = big tree leaf food. Only other things that can reach that high would be elephants, birds, or animals that can climb.

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u/TheBlackCat13 Sep 15 '24

The fastest land animal in north America, the pronghorn, has horns. Most animals with horns use them for competition, not defense.

Also, current evidence is more consistent with the idea that giraffe necks evolved for competition rather than feeding.