The hair-covered horn-like structures on a giraffe’s head are called ossicones.
Ossicones are distinctive bony projections covered by skin and fur. They are present in both male and female giraffes, unlike the antlers of deer, which are shed and regrown. A giraffe’s ossicones begin as cartilage during development and later become connected to the skull.
Most giraffes have two main ossicones, but some individuals also have a smaller central structure and bony bumps near the back of the skull. Their shape and number can vary between giraffe species and even among individuals.
Adult males often have thicker, more heavily worn ossicones because they use their heads and necks in combat called necking. Giraffe ossicones are therefore not antlers: they remain permanently attached and are covered by living skin rather than being annually replaced.