Open Access Research Article Jha et al., J Forensic Res 2015, 6:6 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7145.1000315 Volume 6 • Issue 6 • 1000315 J Forensic Res ISSN: 2157-7145 JFR, an open access journal A Comparative Study of Some Morphological and Microscopic Identifying Features of Genuine Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) Horns and Fake Horns Dinesh Kumar Jha*, Nirajan Thapa Kshetry, Basanta Raj Pokharel, Raju Panday and Nanda Kumar Aryal National Forensic Science Laboratory, Khumaltar, Nepal *Corresponding author: Dinesh Kumar Jha, National Forensic Science Laboratory, Biology Division (Wild life Unit), GPO 4540 Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel: 977-1-5526927, 5553049; Fax: 977-1-5532853; E-mail: dineshforensic@gmail.com Received September 28, 2015; Accepted December 25, 2015; Published December 29, 2015 Citation: Jha DK, Kshetry NT, Pokharel BR, Panday R, Aryal NK (2016) A Comparative Study of Some Morphological and Microscopic Identifying Features of Genuine Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) Horns and Fake Horns. J Forensic Res 6: 315. doi: 10.4172/2157-7145.1000315 Copyright: © 2015 Jha DK, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Rhino horn; Fake horn; Frontal groove; Filamentous units Introduction A rhino horn is a tapering cone of solid keratin with a shallow well at the base which covers a bony knob on the skull [1]. Rhino horn lacks a bony core and is anchored to the dermis covering the frontal and nasal bones [2]. Te chief non-keratinous components of the rhino horn are calcium and melanin which make the horn more resistant to physical wear and breakdown [2,3]. Rhino horn seemed to be world’s most valuable substance and thus its illicit trade has been steadily increasing with diferent purposes of ritual, medicinal and recreational activities. Nowadays, horns of water bufalo, cattle and yak [4], bones, woods and synthetic materials are frequently being used to imitate rhino horn. A variety of methods, such as microscopy, thin layer chromatography, atomic absorption spectrometry, HPLC, UV spectrometry, mass spectrometry, Infrared spectroscopy and modern genetic techniques are available to characterize a genuine rhino horn and its products [5- 11]. Suspected rhino horns are frequently received in this laboratory for identifcation. It is ofen difcult task to diferentiate the fake and genuine horn visibly due to admirable crafsmanship (Figure 1). In the present study, various morphological and microscopic features of genuine horns of one horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) were studied, compared to the fake horn, and the distinctive characteristics of genuine rhino horn were established. Tis paper emphasizes the morphological and microscopic based identifcation of rhino horn along with potential estimation of maturity even from the pieces. Despite being conventional, these simple, rapid, non-destructive but reliable testing methods can be extensively applied in felds such as the customs, scientifc, law enforcement agencies and so on. Materials and Methods Samples A total of 214 genuine rhino horn samples securely stored at the Armed Forest Protection Training Centre, Tikauli, Chitwan, Nepal and Ofce of the Chitwan National Park, Kasara, Nepal were used for the study afer obtaining necessary permission from relevant authorities. Abstract Rhino horn is hard, elongated, conical structure composed entirely of keratin but lacking bony core. Illegal trade of rhino horn has high fnancial rewards. Both genuine and fake horns are confscated by authorities and sent for identifcation. Various morphological and microscopic features of 214 genuine horns of one horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) stored at Armed Forest Protection Training Centre, Tikauli and Offce of the Chitwan National Park, Kasara, Nepal were studied. The studied morphological parameters were color, surface texture, height, mass, basal circumference, frontal groove, basal elevation, porosity, light penetration capability at the base and density. Similarly, microscopic features like shape, size and frequency of flamentous units, Interflamentous space, ratio of medulla and flamentous unit and laminae were studied after thin transverse sections made from the tip of 140 genuine horns. Some of these features were compared with that of 65 fake horns which were received in the laboratory and identifed as fake samples. The distinctive flamentous units were observed in all studied genuine rhino horns with varied number, shape and sizes. Based on this study, identifying features of genuine rhino horns were properly established. The study also reveals the possibility of approximation of maturity of rhino horns. Similarly, 65 suspected horn samples received in this laboratory as case samples and declared fake horns were taken for the comparative study. Morphological study Te observed morphological parameters in genuine rhino horns were color, surface texture, basal elevation, frontal groove, light penetration capability at the basal margin, straight height (cm), outside curve length (cm), basal circumference (cm), mass (g) and density (g/ cm 3 ). Likewise, the studied parameters in fake horns were mass (g), straight height (cm) and basal circumference (cm). Except straight height (N=210), density (N=206) and frontal curve length (N=204), all parameters were observed in 214 real horn samples. Density of horns was calculated according to Pienaar and Hall Martin [8]. Density (g/cm 3 )=12 π m/C 2 h Where, m=mass of horn (g), C=base circumference of horn (cm), h=straight height of horn (cm) Microscopic study Tin transverse sections (T.S) from the apex of 140 genuine horns were taken with the help of a sharp razor blade. Te sections were cleansed with xylene, dried, mounted in a clean microscopic slide with DPX and lastly observed under 100X and 200X using light microscope (Olympus TGHM, Japan). Some of the T.S. of horns were also subjected J o u r n a l o f F o r e n s i c R e s e a r c h ISSN: 2157-7145 Journal of Forensic Research