Dictionary Definition
antler n : deciduous horn of a member of the deer
family
User Contributed Dictionary
Extensive Definition
Antlers are the usually large
and complex horn-like
appendages of most deer
species, mostly worn by males only, for some species such as
caribou by both sexes.
They consist of bony
outgrowths from the head with no covering of keratin as is found in true
horns. Each antler grows from an attachment point on the skull
called a pedicle. While
an antler is growing it is covered with highly vascular
skin called velvet, which
supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone; once the antler
has achieved its proper size, the velvet is lost and the antler's
bone dies. This dead bone structure is the mature antler. Antlers
shed after each mating season.
An advancer, among hunters, is one of the starts or
branches of a buck's attire
between the back antler
and the palm (the flattened part of the antlers). In other words,
it is the second branch of a buck's horn.
Antlers appear to act as large
hearing aids. This effect was discovered by researchers George and
Peter Bubenik and published the findings in the European Journal of
Wildlife in March 2008. Moose with antlers have far more sensitive
hearing than moose without. The pair then studied trophy antlers
with an artificial ear, confirming the discovery of the effects on
hearing by acting as a parabolic reflector.
Examples of various types of antlers
antler in Czech:
Parohy
antler in Danish:
Gevir
antler in German:
Geweih
antler in Esperanto:
Kornaro
antler in French: Bois
(cervidé)
antler in Ido:
Osto-korno
antler in Italian:
Palchi
antler in Dutch:
Gewei
antler in Norwegian:
Gevir
antler in Polish:
Poroże