3 ms·
> I think you are right. The only difference from fingernails is that when the antlers fall off there is bleeding. This is far from the only difference, starti
by Sharlin 4y ago
> I think you are right. The only difference from fingernails is that when the antlers fall off there is bleeding.
This is far from the only difference, starting from the material (living bone tissue vs non-living keratin), and process of growth (the living tissue grows and branches like a tree, vs. being extruded like from a 3D printer by a special tissue at the root of the nail).
Hair and nails are the same. Antlers are very unlike those two. Horns are a mixture, with a keratin shell covering living bone tissue.
- LinuxBender 4y agoI do not disagree with the composition. The reason I compare them to fingernails is that when a tip breaks off the tip does not regenerate. The broken tip remains broken. The antler may continue to grow out from the base but the tip will stay gone until they shed and regrow new antlers.
- Sharlin 4y agoBut the point was that I don't think they grow out from the base but instead from the tips! Branching wouldn't even be possible otherwise. A broken off antler tip may not regenerate, yes, but the reason is more like it develops scar tissue over the wound rather than just being made of inanimate protein like nails are.