Tusk

Tusk is a long, pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, that extends outside the mouth of certain animals such as elephants, walruses, and narwhals. Tusks are used for a variety of purposes including digging, lifting objects, gathering food, and defense. They are also used in displays of dominance and for sexual selection.

Anatomy and Function

Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth, usually in the form of canines or incisors. They are composed of dentin, a hard, dense tissue that makes up the bulk of a tooth, covered by a layer of enamel, the hardest substance in the body. The interior of a tusk is filled with pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves.

Tusks serve several functions depending on the animal species. In elephants, tusks are used for digging, foraging, and fighting. Walrus tusks are used for climbing out of water and onto ice, and for fighting. Narwhal tusks, which are actually elongated upper left canines, are believed to be sensory organs, but their exact function is not fully understood.

Evolution

The evolution of tusks is a result of both natural and sexual selection. In some species, only males have tusks which they use for fighting and to display dominance. In other species, both males and females have tusks. The size and shape of tusks can vary greatly among species and even among individuals within a species.

Conservation

Many animals with tusks are threatened by poaching for their ivory, which is highly valued in some cultures for its beauty and rarity. This has led to significant declines in populations of tusked animals, particularly elephants. Efforts to conserve these species and their habitats are ongoing.

See Also

• Ivory trade
• Elephant
• Walrus
• Narwhal

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