keratose

/ˈkɛrəˌtoʊs/
adjective
  1. Having a horny or hard, fibrous texture, like horn or keratin.
    • Some marine sponges have a keratose skeleton that gives them structure.
    • The biologist described the coral's keratose surface as similar to animal horn.
    • The keratose material of the sponge made it tough and difficult to tear.
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