How are elephant tusks different from walrus tusks?

The primary anatomical difference between elephant and walrus tusks lies in the type of tooth from which they originate. Elephant tusks are enlarged upper incisor teeth, whereas walrus tusks are enlarged upper canine teeth.123

Beyond their dental classification, these tusks differ in their biological function and growth:

• Elephant Tusks: These grow continuously throughout the animal's life. They serve a variety of practical purposes, including defense, offense, digging for water, lifting objects, and gathering food. Both male and female African elephants possess them, while in Asian elephants, they are primarily found in males.41
• Walrus Tusks: These project downward from the mouth and are used primarily for mating displays and defense against other walruses. Unlike elephants, walruses do not use their tusks to dig for food on the ocean floor; instead, they use their snouts and sensitive whiskers to locate prey. Both male and female walruses possess these tusks.3

While both structures are composed of ivory—a variety of dentin—the tusks of the walrus are generally smaller and hold less commercial value than those of the elephant.45