OSSICONES

… are skin-covered bone structures on the heads of Giraffes and male Okapi. They are distinguished from the similar structures of horns and antlers by a permanent covering of skin and fur.

Similar to animals with horns or antlers, male giraffes use their ossicones as weapons during combat, using their heads as clubs.

In early development, they are not bony and are not fused to skull. Ossicones usually fuse to the skull at sexual maturity.

Females and young Giraffes (male and female) have hair on top of their ossicones while adult males are bald.

Technical Data: Canon R6 with RF lens f/11, 800mm | ISO 1600 | 1/500 sec | EV +/-0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 45% of original image

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