Here's a breakdown:
Defense:
* Protection from predators: Horns are a primary weapon against predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas. Antelopes use their horns to stab, gore, and toss attackers.
* Intraspecific competition: Horns can be used in battles between males for dominance and access to mates.
Social Signaling:
* Display of dominance: Larger and more impressive horns can indicate a male's strength and status within a herd.
* Communication: The shape and size of horns can signal individual identity, age, and sex. This helps antelopes recognize each other and maintain social order.
* Territorial defense: Some antelopes use their horns to mark and defend their territories.
Other factors:
* Species variation: Different antelope species have horns with varying shapes, sizes, and functions. Some have long, spiraling horns, while others have short, straight horns.
* Sexual dimorphism: In many antelope species, males have larger and more elaborate horns than females.
It's important to note that horns are not just weapons, but complex structures that serve multiple purposes in the lives of antelopes.