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