Tusks - why do Elephants have them?
Elephant tusks are one of the stand-out features Elephants are known for. These elongated incisors - teeth - can weigh up to 200 pounds and grow as long as 10 feet, making them some of the largest teeth in the animal kingdom.
Besides just being plain impressive the tusks also serve various essential functions in an elephant's daily life.
Structure and Growth of Tusks
Tusks are essentially elongated teeth made of ivory, with about one-third of each tusk hidden from view, embedded deep within the elephant's skull. They continue to grow throughout an elephant's lifetime, with the growth rate varying based on factors such as age, genetics, and environmental conditions. Typically, male elephants have larger and heavier tusks than females, which plays a role in social interactions and dominance displays.Functions of Tusks
Elephants use their tusks for a variety of purposes. They play important for foraging, allowing elephants to dig for roots, strip bark from trees, and access water sources during dry seasons.Additionally, tusks serve as tools for defense against predators and rivals, as well as for social interactions within herds.
The wear patterns on tusks can indicate which tusk an elephant prefers to use, similar to human left or right handedness.