tusk
Quick Summary
A tusk is an elongated, greatly enlarged tooth that projects from an animal's mouth, serving purposes such as digging for food or acting as a weapon. While commonly associated with elephants and walruses, tusks are also found on animals like narwhals, hippopotamuses, sperm whales, and some wild boars.123
The tusk is essentially a type of ivory, which is a form of dentin. For instance, a narwhal's tusk is an overgrown tooth, not a horn, and can grow over 3 meters long. Scientists suggest narwhals use their tusks for hunting and sensing salt levels in the water, rather than solely for aggression. The commercial value of ivory, particularly from elephants, has led to significant conservation concerns and trade bans due to poaching.32
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Chinese water deerThese tusks may exceed 5 cm (2 inches) in length. The water deer is also the only deer with inguinal glands.
Read MoreThese tusks may exceed 5 cm (2 inches) in length. The water deer is also the only deer with inguinal glands.
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elephantTusks and teethElephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth made of ivory. In the African elephant both the male and the female possess tusks, whereas in the Asian elephant it is mainly the male that has tusks. When present in the female, tusks are small,…
Read MoreElephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth made of ivory. In the African elephant both the male and the female possess tusks, whereas in the Asian elephant it is mainly the male that has tusks. When present in the female, tusks are small,…
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proboscidean…emerge from the skull as tusks. The first proboscideans, however, had three small sets of incisors in each jaw. Moeritherium, a tapir-sized mammal that lived some 35 million years ago, had upper and lower incisors representing an early stage in proboscidean tusk development. Some proboscideans, called “shovel-tuskers,” developed a pair…
Read More…emerge from the skull as tusks. The first proboscideans, however, had three small sets of incisors in each jaw. Moeritherium, a tapir-sized mammal that lived some 35 million years ago, had upper and lower incisors representing an early stage in proboscidean tusk development. Some proboscideans, called “shovel-tuskers,” developed a pair…
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gomphothereTusks and teethAs a group, gomphotheres had higher crowned teeth (that is, longer teeth that extended far below the gumline) than their Paleocene and Eocene predecessors. These teeth, which were continually ground down by chewing, allowed the animal to consume a coarse, abrasive diet…
Read MoreAs a group, gomphotheres had higher crowned teeth (that is, longer teeth that extended far below the gumline) than their Paleocene and Eocene predecessors. These teeth, which were continually ground down by chewing, allowed the animal to consume a coarse, abrasive diet…
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mammothThe prominent tusks were directed downward and were very long; in older males they sometimes curved over each other. Mammoth dentition was made up of alternating plates of enamel and a denture that often became worn down by constant back-to-front chewing motions. Remains of arctic plants have…
Read MoreThe prominent tusks were directed downward and were very long; in older males they sometimes curved over each other. Mammoth dentition was made up of alternating plates of enamel and a denture that often became worn down by constant back-to-front chewing motions. Remains of arctic plants have…
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The prominent upper tusks were long and grew parallel to each other with an upward curvature. Short lower tusks were present in males but absent in females.
Read MoreThe prominent upper tusks were long and grew parallel to each other with an upward curvature. Short lower tusks were present in males but absent in females.
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narwhalThe resulting tusk grows to more than 3 metres (9.8 feet) and is grooved on the surface in a left-handed spiral. The undeveloped right tooth in males and usually both teeth in females remain vestigial. However, on rare occasions two tusks may develop in females as well…
Read MoreThe resulting tusk grows to more than 3 metres (9.8 feet) and is grooved on the surface in a left-handed spiral. The undeveloped right tooth in males and usually both teeth in females remain vestigial. However, on rare occasions two tusks may develop in females as well…
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rhinoceros…Indian rhinoceroses such teeth, or tusks, can reach 13 cm (5 inches) in length among dominant males and inflict lethal wounds on other males competing for access to breeding females. The African species, in contrast, lack these long tusklike incisors and instead fight with their horns.
Read More…Indian rhinoceroses such teeth, or tusks, can reach 13 cm (5 inches) in length among dominant males and inflict lethal wounds on other males competing for access to breeding females. The African species, in contrast, lack these long tusklike incisors and instead fight with their horns.
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walrusBoth sexes possess long tusks (the upper canine teeth) that project downward from the mouth. In the male they can grow to about a metre in length and 5.4 kg (12 pounds) in weight. The tusks function mainly in mating display and in defense against other walrus. They are…
Read MoreBoth sexes possess long tusks (the upper canine teeth) that project downward from the mouth. In the male they can grow to about a metre in length and 5.4 kg (12 pounds) in weight. The tusks function mainly in mating display and in defense against other walrus. They are…
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