Elephant tusks are simply elongated incisors. They are made of dentine with an outer layer of enamel. Therefore tusks and human teeth have the same chemical structure.
Ivory is a term used to describe all mammal teeth that have a commercial interest. In fact were human teeth huge and of any commercial value, they would be referred to as ivory. Other animals that have elongated incisors or canines such as warthogs and walruses are said to have ivory too.
One third of an elephant’s tusk is hidden. The visible part is just two thirds of its actual size. The hidden third just like the root of a human tooth, comprises of veins and flesh. A cross section of ivory reveals criss-crossing lines which form a series of beautiful diamond shapes.
Elephant tusks never stop growing as long as the elephant is alive. The older the elephant the bigger the tusks. But this is only true for the African elephant. Asian elephants have shorter tusks.
The reason why Asian elephants have short tusks is not clear. However it is believed that species with the ability to develop long-tusks were hunted out leaving only those species that grow shorter ones.
Elephants mainly use their tusks for defense and to wade of attacks by predators. They are also used for digging and clearing bushes and shrubs out of the way. Human beings use elephant tusks to produce ornaments, artifacts, buttons, billiard balls and other precious items.
Traditionally, piano keys were also made of ivory but the practice has been abandoned over the last two decades. Items made of ivory do not decay or deteriorate in structure with time. Ivory is also used to make false teeth.
Ivory is a term used to describe all mammal teeth that have a commercial interest. In fact were human teeth huge and of any commercial value, they would be referred to as ivory. Other animals that have elongated incisors or canines such as warthogs and walruses are said to have ivory too.
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| Men with ivory tusks. By Frank G. and Frances Carpenter |
One third of an elephant’s tusk is hidden. The visible part is just two thirds of its actual size. The hidden third just like the root of a human tooth, comprises of veins and flesh. A cross section of ivory reveals criss-crossing lines which form a series of beautiful diamond shapes.
Elephant tusks never stop growing as long as the elephant is alive. The older the elephant the bigger the tusks. But this is only true for the African elephant. Asian elephants have shorter tusks.
The reason why Asian elephants have short tusks is not clear. However it is believed that species with the ability to develop long-tusks were hunted out leaving only those species that grow shorter ones.
Elephants mainly use their tusks for defense and to wade of attacks by predators. They are also used for digging and clearing bushes and shrubs out of the way. Human beings use elephant tusks to produce ornaments, artifacts, buttons, billiard balls and other precious items.
Traditionally, piano keys were also made of ivory but the practice has been abandoned over the last two decades. Items made of ivory do not decay or deteriorate in structure with time. Ivory is also used to make false teeth.
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