1. African Elephant
The African elephant is the largest land animal on earth and is well known for its impressive tusks. These tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth, can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh up to 200 pounds each. African elephants use their tusks for a variety of purposes, including digging for water, stripping bark off of trees to eat, and defending themselves against predators. Unfortunately, the demand for ivory has led to the poaching of these magnificent animals, and the African elephant is now listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
2. Walrus
The walrus is a large marine mammal that is found in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas. Like the African elephant, the walrus has long, curved tusks that are actually modified canines. These tusks can grow up to 3 feet in length and are used by the walrus for a variety of purposes, including digging in the ice, climbing onto ice floes, and defending itself against predators. The walrus is also known for using its tusks to create “haul-out” platforms, which are areas where it can rest on the ice.
3. Narwhal
The narwhal is a small, toothed whale that is found in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia. The narwhal is known for its long, spiral tusk, which is actually an elongated canine tooth. The tusk grows out of the left side of the narwhal’s mouth and can reach lengths of up to 10 feet. The purpose of the tusk is not fully understood, but it is thought to be used for display or for defense against predators.
4. Wild Boar
The wild boar, also known as the wild pig, is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in a variety of habitats around the world. The wild boar has long, sharp tusks that are used for defense and for digging up roots and tubers to eat. These tusks can grow up to 8 inches in length and are sharp enough to cause serious injury to humans or other animals.
5. Warthog
The warthog is a large, wild pig that is found in Africa. Like the wild boar, the warthog has long, sharp tusks that are used for defense and for digging up roots and tubers. The warthog’s tusks are shorter and thicker than those of the wild boar, and are used for digging and foraging as well as for defense.
6. Pygmy Hippopotamus
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small, herbivorous mammal that is found in the forests of West Africa. Despite its small size, the pygmy hippopotamus has long, sharp tusks that it uses for defense against predators. These tusks can grow up to 8 inches in length and are used in combination with the pygmy hippopotamus’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
7. White-Lipped Peccary
The white-lipped peccary is a medium-sized, hoofed mammal that is found in the forests of Central and South America. The white-lipped peccary has long, sharp tusks that it uses for defense and for digging up roots and tubers to eat. These tusks can grow up to 6 inches in length and are used in combination with the peccary’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
8. Red River Hog
The red river hog is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in the forests of West and Central Africa. The red river hog has long, curved tusks that it uses for defense and for digging up roots and tubers to eat. These tusks can grow up to 8 inches in length and are used in combination with the red river hog’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
9. Water Buffalo
The water buffalo, also known as the Asian buffalo, is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in a variety of habitats in Asia. The water buffalo has long, curved tusks that it uses for defense and for digging up roots and tubers to eat. These tusks can grow up to 2 feet in length and are used in combination with the buffalo’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
10. Forest Elephant
The forest elephant is a smaller species of elephant that is found in the forests of Central and West Africa. Like the African elephant, the forest elephant has long, curved tusks that it uses for a variety of purposes, including digging for water, stripping bark off of trees to eat, and defending itself against predators. The forest elephant’s tusks are generally smaller and more slender than those of the African elephant, but they are still an important part of the forest elephant’s anatomy.
11. Mongolian Wild Ass
The Mongolian wild ass, also known as the khulan, is a medium-sized, hoofed mammal that is found in the grasslands and desert regions of Mongolia. The Mongolian wild ass has long, slender tusks that it uses for defense against predators. These tusks can grow up to 8 inches in length and are used in combination with the wild ass’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
12. Grévy’s Zebra
Grévy’s zebra is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in the arid regions of East Africa. Grévy’s zebra is known for its long, slender tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth. These tusks can grow up to 2 feet in length and are used by the zebra for a variety of purposes, including defense against predators and foraging for food.
13. Dhole
The dhole, also known as the Asiatic wild dog or the red dog, is a medium-sized carnivore that is found in a variety of habitats in Asia. The dhole has long, sharp tusks that it uses for defense and for hunting prey. These tusks can grow up to 4 inches in length and are used in combination with the dhole’s powerful jaws to bring down larger animals.
14. Arctic Fox
The Arctic fox is a small, carnivorous mammal that is found in the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The Arctic fox has small, sharp tusks that it uses for defense against predators and for hunting small prey. These tusks can grow up to 1 inch in length and are used in combination with the fox’s powerful jaws to catch and kill its prey.
15. Muskox
The muskox is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. The muskox has long, curved tusks that it uses for defense against predators and for foraging for food. These tusks can grow up to 2 feet in length and are used in combination with the muskox’s powerful jaws to protect itself.
16. Sun Bear
The sun bear is a small, carnivorous mammal that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia. The sun bear has small, sharp tusks that it uses for defense against predators and for feeding on a variety of foods, including fruits, insects, and small animals. These tusks can grow up to 2 inches in length and are used in combination with the sun bear’s powerful jaws to catch and kill its prey.
17. Giant Anteater
The giant anteater is a large, insectivorous mammal that is found in the forests of Central and South America. The giant anteater has long, sharp tusks that it uses for defense against predators and for feeding on ants and termites. These tusks can grow up to 8 inches in length and are used in combination with the anteater’s powerful jaws to catch and kill its prey.
18. Giant Forest Hog
The giant forest hog is a large, hoofed mammal that is found in the forests of West and Central Africa. The giant forest hog has long, sharp tusks that it uses for defense against predators and for foraging for food. These tusks can grow up to 16 inches in length and are used in combination with the forest hog’s powerful jaws to protect itself and to dig for roots and tubers.