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Britannica Sources used in this answer

How many sets of cheek teeth do elephants have during their lives?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Illustration of an African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) shown in profile, highlighting its large ears, long trunk, and curved tusks, with a scale bar indicating size.
elephant African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Elephants have six sets of cheek teeth (molars and premolars) throughout their lifetime. These teeth do not erupt simultaneously; instead, they develop from the back of the jaw and move forward as the older, worn teeth at the front fragment and fall out or are swallowed. Each successive set of teeth is larger, wider, and heavier than the previous one, with the final molars reaching lengths of nearly 40 cm (almost 16 inches) and weighing over 5 kg (about 11 pounds).1