2007-02-18 03:04:57 · 13 answers · asked by lifesaver 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
The rhino's horn is made up of keratin only, and lacks bony core such as bovine horns. Keratin's are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble, they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in reptiles,birds,amphibians and mammals.They are rivaled in biological toughness only by chitin. Chitin is a tough, protective, semitransparent substance, primarily a nitrogen- containing polysaccharides (type of carbohydrate), forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of certain fungi. Chitin forms the basis of the hard shells of crustaceans, such as crabs,lobsters, shrimp.
Not a true HORN, it is made up of thickly matted hair that grows from the skull without skeletal support.
The horn is used in traditional Asian medicines.
Greek words rhino, meaning nose, and ceros, meaning horn; hence "horn nosed"
2007-02-18 04:22:36 · answer #1 · answered by CHAZ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ivory
2007-02-18 03:07:29 · answer #2 · answered by Roadkill 4 lunch 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the horn is made up of the same thing as your finger nails
2007-02-18 03:12:35 · answer #3 · answered by seadog1814 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hardened keratins. Vote for me!
2007-02-18 03:09:02 · answer #4 · answered by demilspencer@yahoo.com 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
tightly matted hair
2007-02-18 03:12:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
bone
starch and
calium
2007-02-18 03:54:40 · answer #6 · answered by Steven A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hardened hair... that's karetin (a protein)
2007-02-18 03:21:49 · answer #7 · answered by sushobhan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stainless steel
2007-02-18 03:07:36 · answer #8 · answered by JACKHOFF 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
hair
2007-02-18 03:14:18 · answer #9 · answered by Jennifer 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
keratin
2007-02-18 05:31:24 · answer #10 · answered by zoogrl2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋