Mixing
What Purpose Would a Unicorn's Horn Serve in the Wild?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
This famous tapestry shows all the "modernized" traits of a unicorn--basically just a pale-colored horse with a single horn on its head. Of course, single-horned animals do and did exist:
The only problem with such comparisons is that real-life one-horned animals have their horns on a practical area of the head--the upper snout. That way, the animals can have a longer reach against a charging predator, forcing it to brake its feet. The unicorn, by contrast, has its horn usually set on the forehead. That's no problem for the usual two-horned animal, as the V-gap resulted by the two horns makes it difficult for an opponent to strike directly at the skull. The two-horned animals also have their horns ridged to prevent slipping.
But the unicorn of classic mythology and fantasy doesn't have either advantage, so a unicorn can't use its single horn to fight other unicorns. And it doesn't look sturdy, either, so of/defense against predators can't be a factor, either. With those two eliminated, what else would the smooth single horn of a real-life unicorn be used for?
reality-check biology evolution mythical-creatures behaviour
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
This famous tapestry shows all the "modernized" traits of a unicorn--basically just a pale-colored horse with a single horn on its head. Of course, single-horned animals do and did exist:
The only problem with such comparisons is that real-life one-horned animals have their horns on a practical area of the head--the upper snout. That way, the animals can have a longer reach against a charging predator, forcing it to brake its feet. The unicorn, by contrast, has its horn usually set on the forehead. That's no problem for the usual two-horned animal, as the V-gap resulted by the two horns makes it difficult for an opponent to strike directly at the skull. The two-horned animals also have their horns ridged to prevent slipping.
But the unicorn of classic mythology and fantasy doesn't have either advantage, so a unicorn can't use its single horn to fight other unicorns. And it doesn't look sturdy, either, so of/defense against predators can't be a factor, either. With those two eliminated, what else would the smooth single horn of a real-life unicorn be used for?
reality-check biology evolution mythical-creatures behaviour
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
This famous tapestry shows all the "modernized" traits of a unicorn--basically just a pale-colored horse with a single horn on its head. Of course, single-horned animals do and did exist:
The only problem with such comparisons is that real-life one-horned animals have their horns on a practical area of the head--the upper snout. That way, the animals can have a longer reach against a charging predator, forcing it to brake its feet. The unicorn, by contrast, has its horn usually set on the forehead. That's no problem for the usual two-horned animal, as the V-gap resulted by the two horns makes it difficult for an opponent to strike directly at the skull. The two-horned animals also have their horns ridged to prevent slipping.
But the unicorn of classic mythology and fantasy doesn't have either advantage, so a unicorn can't use its single horn to fight other unicorns. And it doesn't look sturdy, either, so of/defense against predators can't be a factor, either. With those two eliminated, what else would the smooth single horn of a real-life unicorn be used for?
reality-check biology evolution mythical-creatures behaviour
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
This famous tapestry shows all the "modernized" traits of a unicorn--basically just a pale-colored horse with a single horn on its head. Of course, single-horned animals do and did exist:
The only problem with such comparisons is that real-life one-horned animals have their horns on a practical area of the head--the upper snout. That way, the animals can have a longer reach against a charging predator, forcing it to brake its feet. The unicorn, by contrast, has its horn usually set on the forehead. That's no problem for the usual two-horned animal, as the V-gap resulted by the two horns makes it difficult for an opponent to strike directly at the skull. The two-horned animals also have their horns ridged to prevent slipping.
But the unicorn of classic mythology and fantasy doesn't have either advantage, so a unicorn can't use its single horn to fight other unicorns. And it doesn't look sturdy, either, so of/defense against predators can't be a factor, either. With those two eliminated, what else would the smooth single horn of a real-life unicorn be used for?
reality-check biology evolution mythical-creatures behaviour
reality-check biology evolution mythical-creatures behaviour
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
asked 8 hours ago
JohnWDailey
3,6232165
3,6232165
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
It could be as simple as sexual selection
A lot of natural features that occur in animals have no other obvious reason for occuring and have become integral to a species. colour, frills etc.
The narwhal has one horn, we don't really know why it has it. But it's thought to be linked to dominance or mating displays of some sort.
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
It could be an organ for communication.
As we know, Dolphins and Whales communicate by sonar sound waves. The teeth of dolphins are arranged in a way that makes them act like sonar antennae (read more about it here). They basically hear with their lower jaw.
The same principle could apply to Unicorns. They can create horse-like sounds, but do so only to communicate with other creatures. To communicate with another Unicorn, they create ultrasonic sound waves that are received and turned into nerve signals by their horns instead of their ears.
The center of the horn is packed full of nerve cells like a tooth. The ridged and tapering shape makes sound waves of different frequencies resonate in different parts of the horn. That enables them to distinguish different pitches of tones. By turning their heads and aligning their horns, they can determine the origin of the sound and thereby the position of the "speaking" unicorn.
Since young girls have high pitched voices, their singing might resonate in the horn as well. Thus the myth of virgins attracting Unicorns was born.
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
It could be as simple as sexual selection
A lot of natural features that occur in animals have no other obvious reason for occuring and have become integral to a species. colour, frills etc.
The narwhal has one horn, we don't really know why it has it. But it's thought to be linked to dominance or mating displays of some sort.
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
It could be as simple as sexual selection
A lot of natural features that occur in animals have no other obvious reason for occuring and have become integral to a species. colour, frills etc.
The narwhal has one horn, we don't really know why it has it. But it's thought to be linked to dominance or mating displays of some sort.
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
It could be as simple as sexual selection
A lot of natural features that occur in animals have no other obvious reason for occuring and have become integral to a species. colour, frills etc.
The narwhal has one horn, we don't really know why it has it. But it's thought to be linked to dominance or mating displays of some sort.
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
It could be as simple as sexual selection
A lot of natural features that occur in animals have no other obvious reason for occuring and have become integral to a species. colour, frills etc.
The narwhal has one horn, we don't really know why it has it. But it's thought to be linked to dominance or mating displays of some sort.
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
answered 5 hours ago
Kilisi
11.7k12056
11.7k12056
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
It could be an organ for communication.
As we know, Dolphins and Whales communicate by sonar sound waves. The teeth of dolphins are arranged in a way that makes them act like sonar antennae (read more about it here). They basically hear with their lower jaw.
The same principle could apply to Unicorns. They can create horse-like sounds, but do so only to communicate with other creatures. To communicate with another Unicorn, they create ultrasonic sound waves that are received and turned into nerve signals by their horns instead of their ears.
The center of the horn is packed full of nerve cells like a tooth. The ridged and tapering shape makes sound waves of different frequencies resonate in different parts of the horn. That enables them to distinguish different pitches of tones. By turning their heads and aligning their horns, they can determine the origin of the sound and thereby the position of the "speaking" unicorn.
Since young girls have high pitched voices, their singing might resonate in the horn as well. Thus the myth of virgins attracting Unicorns was born.
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
It could be an organ for communication.
As we know, Dolphins and Whales communicate by sonar sound waves. The teeth of dolphins are arranged in a way that makes them act like sonar antennae (read more about it here). They basically hear with their lower jaw.
The same principle could apply to Unicorns. They can create horse-like sounds, but do so only to communicate with other creatures. To communicate with another Unicorn, they create ultrasonic sound waves that are received and turned into nerve signals by their horns instead of their ears.
The center of the horn is packed full of nerve cells like a tooth. The ridged and tapering shape makes sound waves of different frequencies resonate in different parts of the horn. That enables them to distinguish different pitches of tones. By turning their heads and aligning their horns, they can determine the origin of the sound and thereby the position of the "speaking" unicorn.
Since young girls have high pitched voices, their singing might resonate in the horn as well. Thus the myth of virgins attracting Unicorns was born.
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
It could be an organ for communication.
As we know, Dolphins and Whales communicate by sonar sound waves. The teeth of dolphins are arranged in a way that makes them act like sonar antennae (read more about it here). They basically hear with their lower jaw.
The same principle could apply to Unicorns. They can create horse-like sounds, but do so only to communicate with other creatures. To communicate with another Unicorn, they create ultrasonic sound waves that are received and turned into nerve signals by their horns instead of their ears.
The center of the horn is packed full of nerve cells like a tooth. The ridged and tapering shape makes sound waves of different frequencies resonate in different parts of the horn. That enables them to distinguish different pitches of tones. By turning their heads and aligning their horns, they can determine the origin of the sound and thereby the position of the "speaking" unicorn.
Since young girls have high pitched voices, their singing might resonate in the horn as well. Thus the myth of virgins attracting Unicorns was born.
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
It could be an organ for communication.
As we know, Dolphins and Whales communicate by sonar sound waves. The teeth of dolphins are arranged in a way that makes them act like sonar antennae (read more about it here). They basically hear with their lower jaw.
The same principle could apply to Unicorns. They can create horse-like sounds, but do so only to communicate with other creatures. To communicate with another Unicorn, they create ultrasonic sound waves that are received and turned into nerve signals by their horns instead of their ears.
The center of the horn is packed full of nerve cells like a tooth. The ridged and tapering shape makes sound waves of different frequencies resonate in different parts of the horn. That enables them to distinguish different pitches of tones. By turning their heads and aligning their horns, they can determine the origin of the sound and thereby the position of the "speaking" unicorn.
Since young girls have high pitched voices, their singing might resonate in the horn as well. Thus the myth of virgins attracting Unicorns was born.
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
edited 55 mins ago
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
answered 4 hours ago
Elmy
5,144727
5,144727
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f126313%2fwhat-purpose-would-a-unicorns-horn-serve-in-the-wild%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
In the last but one picture I see also an horn on the forehead.
– L.Dutch♦
8 hours ago
Many alleged unicorn horns do have ridges on them, as they come from narwhals.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_horn And depictions of them often show a ridged horn, depending on the medium that was used tapestries such as the one you have chosen don't have a good resolution but carvings and paintings are different..upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/…
– Sarriesfan
6 hours ago