HORNS AND FIGHTING IN MALE SPANISH IBEX, CAPRA-PYRENAICA

As adult body mass is reached fighting force is greater, consequently horn growth in male Spanish ibex must compensate to minimize breakage. This is done by increasing the value of the second moment of the area at the base of horns, which keeps the maximum horn-bending stress low. The most frequent, and harmless, types of conventional fighting probably serve as reliable tests of the fighting ability of an animal. Contenders resist dangerous rear clashes by their body mass and absorb the energy of fighting and prevent skull rotation by contraction of their neck muscles. -from Author