What is keratin?
Keratin is a strong, fibre-based protein material.
Keratin is found on amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Keratin is the material in animal beaks, bills, claws, feathers, fingernails, hair, hooves, horns, scales, shells, talons, toenails, and wool. It is also in the outer layer of human skin.
Keratin comes from the Greek word “keras” or “ceros” which means horn. Rhinoceros means “nose with a horn” for example.
Ostrich beak
Feather
Shetland Pony hair
Pied Crow claws
Impala horns
Tortoise shell
Monkey fingernails
Zebra hooves
Black Vulture talons
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM