Title: Elephant Tusks - Elephant Facts and Information
Headings: Elephant Tusks
Elephant Tusks
Ivory Tusks – A Blessing and Curse
What is a tusk?
What are tusks used for?
Hunting for Ivory
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Content: About 50% of Asian females have short tusks known as tushes – which have no pulp inside. What is a tusk? Usually in mammals tusks are enlarged canine teeth, but in elephants they are actually elongated incisors and are essentially no different from other teeth. One third of the tusk is actually hidden from view, embedded deep in the elephant’s head. This part of the tusk is a pulp cavity made up of tissue, blood and nerves. The visible, ivory part of the tusk is made of dentine with an outer layer of enamel. Elephant ivory is unique which when viewed in cross-sections reveals criss-cross lines that form a series of diamond shapes. Elephants tusks never stop growing so some old bulls display enormous examples. However, the average size of tusks has decreased over the past hundred years because hunting elephants for their ivory has resulted in the ‘big tusk gene’ becoming increasingly rare. What are tusks used for?