Editing Antelope (section)

===Antelope horns===
{{Redirect|Antelope horns|the milkweed commonly known as antelope horns|Asclepias asperula}}
[[File:Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary b2 844-2.jpg|thumb|Antelope horns]]
The size and shape of antelope horns varies greatly. Those of the duikers and dwarf antelope tend to be simple "spikes", but differ in the angle to the head from backward curved and backward pointing (e.g. [[yellow-backed duiker]]) to straight and upright (e.g. [[steenbok]]). Other groups have twisted (e.g. [[common eland]]), spiral (e.g. [[greater kudu]]), "recurved" (e.g. the [[reedbuck]]s), lyrate (e.g. [[impala]]), or long, curved (e.g. the [[oryx]]es) horns. Horns are not shed and their bony cores are covered with a thick, persistent sheath of [[Keratin|horny material]], both of which distinguish them from antlers.<ref>Prothero, D. R. and Schoch, R. M. (2002) ''Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals''. JHU Press. {{ISBN|0801871352}}</ref>

Antelope horns are efficient weapons, and tend to be better developed in those species where males fight over females (large herd antelope) than in solitary or [[Lek (biology)|lekking]] species. With male-male competition for mates, horns are clashed in combat. Males more commonly use their horns against each other than against another species. The boss of the horns is typically arranged in such a way that two antelope striking at each other's horns cannot crack each other's skulls, making a fight via horn more ritualized than dangerous. Many species have ridges in their horns for at least two-thirds the length of their horns, but these ridges are not a direct indicator of age.