Best Horned

Dicranurus monstrosus is a Devonian-era trilobite discovered in Morocco. This species is notable for its exceptionally elaborate and branched spines along its posterior margin, making it one of the most ornate trilobites ever found. The fossil provides valuable insight into the evolution of odontop...

The Atlas beetle is a sizable beetle native to Southeast Asian forests belonging to the Dynastinae scarab family. Males are distinguished by their large, prominent horns which they utilize in intense battles with other males for dominance and mating opportunities. These beetles are particularly nota...

Carnotaurus sastrei was a large abelisaurid theropod that lived in what is now Argentina during the Late Cretaceous. Known from a notably complete skeleton described in 1985, it had paired horns above the eyes, a deep skull, powerful hind limbs, and extremely reduced forelimbs. Preserved skin impres...

Osmia cornuta, commonly known as the horned hornet bee, is a species of solitary mason bee found across Europe. This bee’s distinctive horn-like projection on its head aids in nest construction within pre-existing cavities like wood or clay. Its early emergence makes it valuable for pollinating orch...

The Actaeon beetle is a large scarab beetle native to South America’s Amazon rainforest. It belongs to the Dynastinae subfamily and is notable for its massive size and prominent horns developed in male specimens. These horns are among the largest found in insects. The species is of interest to entom...

Ceratogyrus darlingi, known as the horned baboon spider, is an African tarantula described by Pocock in 1897 notable for the distinctive soft horn projecting from its carapace.

The Regal moth represents the largest moth species in North America. It belongs to the Saturniidae family, distinguished by its impressive size – often exceeding a foot in wingspan. This remarkable insect is notable for its association with the hickory horned devil caterpillar, a formidable predator...

The Elephant Beetle is a sizable scarab beetle native to Central and South America. It’s notable for its impressive size and distinctive horn present on male specimens. These beetles belong to the Dynastinae subfamily and are particularly appreciated by insect collectors and researchers studying sca...

Grant’s rhinoceros beetle is a large scarab beetle native to southwestern United States habitats. Males possess dramatically elongated horns on their head and thorax, growing up to 60mm long. These horns are primarily used in intraspecies competition for mates. The species belongs to the Dynastinae...

Ceratosaurus nasicornis is a theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic, best known from fossils found in the Morrison Formation of western North America. It is distinguished by a blade-like nasal horn, smaller bony projections above the eyes, unusually large teeth, and a row of small osteoderms along...

Ceratogyrus darlingi is an old-world tarantula species native to the southern regions of Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is commonly known as the horned baboon tarantula due to the prominent, forward-projecting horn that protrudes from the center of its carapace. This anatomical str...

The Caucasus beetle (Chalcosoma chiron) is a large rhinoceros beetle native to Southeast Asia, belonging to the family Scarabaeidae. It is distinguished by the enormous, curved thoracic horn present on males, which is used to fight other males for territory and mating rights. The insect is recognize...

The eastern Hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus) is a large rhinoceros beetle native to the eastern United States. It holds the distinction of being the largest beetle species in the US, with adults reaching lengths of up to two inches. Males possess prominent thoracic and cephalic horns used to compet...

A Devonian proetid trilobite from Morocco named for the prominent horn-like glabellar projections, commonly collected from Devonian limestone in the Anti-Atlas region.

Ceratogyrus brachycephalus, described by Hewitt in 1919, is a southern African tarantula distinguished by the unique rearward-facing foveal horn on its carapace.

The European rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis) is a large scarab beetle widely distributed across mainland Europe. Males possess a prominent, inward-curving horn on their head, which they use to compete with other males for mating opportunities and territory. Females lack this horn, making the...

The ox beetle, Strategus aloeus, is a large rhinoceros beetle native to the Americas and encountered in the southern United States. Major males bear three prominent thoracic horns, while minor males have much smaller horns and females lack the same developed armature. Males use their horns in contes...

Estemmenosuchus mirabilis is a large dinocephalian therapsid from the Middle Permian of what is now Russia. It is recognized by massive, outward-projecting bony structures on the skull, including prominent growths above and beside the head. As an early synapsid rather than a dinosaur, it helps docum...

Typhaeus typhoeus, the minotaur beetle, is a European dung beetle in the family Geotrupidae. Males bear three prominent thoracic horns on the head and pronotum, which give the species its name and are used to compete with rivals and to excavate deep vertical burrows in sandy or loose soil. The beetl...

The horned clubtail (Arigomphus cornutus) is a species of dragonfly belonging to the family Gomphidae, native to regions of the United States and Canada. It is recognized by the distinctive, horn-like occipital crest located on the back of its head. This insect typically inhabits vegetated ponds, la...

The horned dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus, is a tunneling scarab beetle native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia and introduced elsewhere. Large males possess a pair of curved horns on the head, while smaller males may have reduced horns or none, reflecting alternative reproductive strateg...