Elephants are known for their trunks and their tusks, but what about elephant teeth? As the largest land mammal, they have the appetite to match. Learn more about elephant teeth that allow them to eat up to 300 pounds of food a day.
All About Elephant Teeth
How many sets of teeth do they have?
Most mammals have a set of baby teeth that are replaced with permanent adult teeth. Elephants, however, go through 6 sets of molars. The molars grow in the jaw and move forward as new ones come in to replace them.
Are tusks considered teeth?
Yes! Elephant tusks are incisors, and while they aren’t used to chomp or chew, elephants use them to dig for food and water, strip bark off of trees and battle each other.
Are elephant teeth used to eat?
Yes! While elephant tusks aren’t used to eat, their molars are. Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark, so their molars help them chew the vegetation.
Curious about more than just elephant teeth? Learn more about animal teeth: