Mechanical analysis of bovid horns and cervid antlers: a possible ultimate cause for antler casting
Yaxin Liu A B C and Chunwang Li
A B *
A Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
B University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
C College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
Animal Production Science 63(16) 1664-1668 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23031
Submitted: 18 January 2023 Accepted: 22 February 2023 Published: 14 March 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Cervids and bovids have antlers and horns respectively, which serve important functions. Bovids horns grow continuously, while almost all cervids cast antlers annually.
Aims: We compared some measurements of the cervid antlers with the bovid horns to show the possible morphological and mechanical reasons for antler casting.
Methods: We measured the weight and the length of 59 cervid antlers and 35 bovid horns. Then, we calculated the ratio of antler (or horn) weight to bodyweight, as well as the torque of the antler and horns. We used general linear model to test the difference of these four variables between cervids and bovids.
Key results: Our results showed that (1) the weight of cervid antlers was significantly higher than that of bovid horns, (2) the ratio of antler (or horn) weight to bodyweight showed no significant difference between cervids and bovids, (3) the distance from the centre of gravity to the base of the antler or horn differed significantly between bovids and cervids, and (4) the torque of cervid antlers was significantly greater than that of bovid horns.
Conclusions: We assumed that the antlers exert more burden on the head of cervids than do horns on the head of bovids. Antler casting could be the evolutionary strategy of deer to relieve the burden of antlers.
Implications: Unpacking the burden of antler could be one of the ultimate causes for antler casting in cervids.
Keywords: antler casting, antler weight, bovids, cervids, evolutionary strategy, horn, morphological evolution, ultimate cause.
References
Alvarez F (1993) Risks of fighting in relation to age and territory holding in fallow deer. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, 376–383.| Risks of fighting in relation to age and territory holding in fallow deer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bartoš L, Bubenik GA (2011) Relationships between rank-related behaviour, antler cycle timing and antler growth in deer: behavioural aspects. Animal Production Science 51, 303–310.
Benton MJ (2008) ‘The seventy great mysteries of the natural world: unlocking the secrets of our planet.’ pp. 237–240. (Thames and Hudson: New York, NY, USA)
Cappelli J, Garcia AJ, Kotrba R, Gambín Pozo P, Landete-Castillejos T, Gallego L, Ceacero F (2018) The bony horncore of the common eland (Taurotragus oryx): composition and mechanical properties of a spiral fighting structure. Journal of Anatomy 232, 72–79.
| The bony horncore of the common eland (Taurotragus oryx): composition and mechanical properties of a spiral fighting structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caro TM, Graham CM, Stoner CJ, Flores MM (2003) Correlates of horn and antler shape in bovids and cervids. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 55, 32–41.
| Correlates of horn and antler shape in bovids and cervids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Castello JR (2016) ‘Bovids of the world: antelopes, gazelles, cattle, goats, sheep, and relatives.’ pp. 1–664. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ, USA)
Currey JD (1979) Mechanical properties of bone tissues with greatly differing functions. Journal of Biomechanics 12, 313–319.
| Mechanical properties of bone tissues with greatly differing functions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Currey JD (2010) Mechanical properties and adaptations of some less familiar bony tissues. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 3, 357–372.
| Mechanical properties and adaptations of some less familiar bony tissues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Currey JD, Landete-Castillejos T, Estevez J, Ceacero F, Olguin A, Garcia A, Gallego L (2009) The mechanical properties of red deer antler bone when used in fighting. Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 3985–3993.
| The mechanical properties of red deer antler bone when used in fighting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davis EB, Brakora KA, Lee AH (2011) Evolution of ruminant headgear: a review. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278, 2857–2865.
| Evolution of ruminant headgear: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goss RJ (1976) Photoperiodic control of antler cycles in deer. III. Decreasing versus increasing day lengths. Journal of Experimental Zoology 197, 307–312.
| Photoperiodic control of antler cycles in deer. III. Decreasing versus increasing day lengths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kitchener A (1988) An analysis of the forces of fighting of the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and the mechanical design of the horn of bovids. Journal of Zoology 214, 1–20.
| An analysis of the forces of fighting of the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and the mechanical design of the horn of bovids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Klinkhamer AJ, Woodley N, Neenan JM, Parr WCH, Clausen P, Sánchez-Villagra MR, Sansalone G, Lister AM, Wroe S (2019) Head to head: the case for fighting behaviour in Megaloceros giganteus using finite-element analysis. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 286, 20191873
| Head to head: the case for fighting behaviour in Megaloceros giganteus using finite-element analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lemaître J-F, Cheynel L, Douhard F, Bourgoin G, Débias F, Ferté H, Gilot-Fromont E, Pardonnet S, Pellerin M, Rey B, Vanpé C, Hewison AJM, Gaillard J-M (2018) The influence of early-life allocation to antlers on male performance during adulthood: evidence from contrasted populations of a large herbivore. Journal of Animal Ecology 87, 921–932.
| The influence of early-life allocation to antlers on male performance during adulthood: evidence from contrasted populations of a large herbivore.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Melnycky NA, Weladji RB, Holand Ø, Nieminen M (2013) Scaling of antler size in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): sexual dimorphism and variability in resource allocation. Journal of Mammalogy 94, 1371–1379.
| Scaling of antler size in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): sexual dimorphism and variability in resource allocation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Monteith KL, Long RA, Stephenson TR, Bleich VC, Bowyer RT, Lasharr TN (2018) Horn size and nutrition in mountain sheep: can ewe handle the truth? The Journal of Wildlife Management 82, 67–84.
| Horn size and nutrition in mountain sheep: can ewe handle the truth?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morina DL, Demarais S, Chesser GD, Lowe JW, Strickland BK (2018) Antler manipulation procedures for use in social and behavioral studies of deer. Wildlife Biology 2018, 1–5.
| Antler manipulation procedures for use in social and behavioral studies of deer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Plard F, Bonenfant C, Gaillard J-M (2011) Revisiting the allometry of antlers among deer species: male–male sexual competition as a driver. Oikos 120, 601–606.
| Revisiting the allometry of antlers among deer species: male–male sexual competition as a driver.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schaffer WM (1968) Intraspecific combat and evolution of Caprini. Evolution 22, 817–825.
| Intraspecific combat and evolution of Caprini.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sempéré AJ, Mauget R, Lacroix A (1992) Seasonal regulation of the sexual cycle and antler growth in roe deer: evidence for an endogenous rhythm. In ‘The biology of deer’. (Ed. Brown RD) pp. 499–504. (Springer: New York, NY, USA)
Suttie JM, Fennessy PF, Lapwood KR, Corson ID (1995) Role of steroids in antler growth of red deer stags. Journal of Experimental Zoology 271, 120–130.
| Role of steroids in antler growth of red deer stags.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ungerfeld R, Damián JP, Villagrán M, González-Pensado SX (2009) Female effect on antlers of pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 87, 734–739.
| Female effect on antlers of pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Geer AAE (2018) Uniformity in variety: Antler morphology and evolution in a predator-free environment. Palaeontologia Electronica 21, 1–31.
| Uniformity in variety: Antler morphology and evolution in a predator-free environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Willisch CS, Biebach I, Marreros N, Ryser-Degiorgis M-P, Neuhaus P (2015) Horn growth and reproduction in a long-lived male mammal: no compensation for poor early-life horn growth. Evolutionary Biology 42, 1–11.
| Horn growth and reproduction in a long-lived male mammal: no compensation for poor early-life horn growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
