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A horn is a permanently pointed protrusion on the skull of many animals that is made up of keratin and other protein covering that surrounds a living bone core. Antlers are not the same as horns since antlers are not permanent. True horns are mostly seen in ruminant artiodactyls, Antilocapridae (pronghorn), and Bovidae (cattle, goats, antelope, etc.).  Cattle horns grow from subcutaneous connective tissue (under the scalp) and eventually fuse to the frontal bone.

A single pair of horns is common, although two or more pairs can be seen in a few wild species and few domesticated sheep breeds. The Hebridean, Icelandic, Jacob, Manx Loaghtan, and Navajo-Churro sheep breeds are polycerate (multi-horned).

Horns are commonly curved or helical in form, with ridges or fluting. Only males in many animals have horns. Horns begin to develop shortly after birth and continue to do so throughout the animal’s life (except in pronghorns, which shed the outer layer annually but retain the bony core). Scurs are partial or malformed horns in cattle. Similar growths on other body regions are commonly referred to as spurs, claws, or hooves, depending on where they appear on the body.

Cutaneous horns are the only horns that can develop in humans.

People sprouting horns have been documented throughout history, sometimes with legendary significance. However, no photographic evidence of the event has been uncovered by researchers. Outgrowings can be seen in human cadaveric specimens, but they are classified as osteomas or other excrescences.

Humans with horns have been reported in nations with little medical resources. There are living persons with cutaneous horns, including many in China. These horns are most frequent in the elderly.

Some people, like The Enigma, have horn implants, which are silicone implants that are inserted beneath the skin as a type of body alteration.

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