What substance composes the characteristic horns of Family *Rhinocerotidae*?
Answer
Keratin.
The distinctive horns found on the snouts of all members of the Family Rhinocerotidae are composed entirely of keratin. This structural material is remarkable because it is exactly the same substance that makes up human hair and fingernails. This composition means the horns are not bony outgrowths derived from the skull, but rather densely packed, fibrous protein structures that continue to grow throughout the animal's life. This keratin composition is a unifying feature of the family, distinguishing them from other horned or antlered megafauna whose head ornamentation might be bone or bone covered in velvet.
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