Question

What type of dentition is seen in mammals? What are elephant tusks?

Answer 1

• Mammals are typically heterodont. This means that they have a variety of tooth shapes. Most mammals have incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Early appearances of the heterodont tooth condition are found in fossil forms of early mammals.
• 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.