16 Terrific Animals With Tusks: Facts & Photos

Asian elephants

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are found in various South and Southeast Asian habitats, including grasslands, dry and wet forests, and agricultural areas.

Unlike their African cousins in the Elephantidae family, not all Asian elephants have ivory tusks. Only some males have large, prominent tusks-these males are often referred to as 'tuskers'. Female Asian elephants and most males tend to have much smaller tusks called 'tushes', if they have any at all. Tushes are small and brittle and can break easily. Similarly to African elephants, Asian elephants use their tusks for foraging, stripping bark, digging, and self-defence.

The number of Asian male elephants with tusks varies by region. It's estimated that less than 10% of Asian male elephants in Sri Lanka have tusks, compared to around 90% in India. This may reflect the history of ivory hunting in the regions. According to the IUCN Red List, Asian elephants are endangered and have a decreasing population. Major threats to the species' survival include human-elephant conflict.

Walruses

Walruses are large marine mammals found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic shallow ocean waters. There are two subspecies of walrus: the Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) and the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).

Both male and female walruses have tusks that can grow up to one metre (3.2 feet) in length. Male Pacific walruses tend to have larger tusks than Male Atlantics. The males typically use their tusks to fight and establish dominance and display them to attract females. Walruses also use tusks to defend themselves against predators and to help haul their bodies out of the water and onto ice.

The species has historically been hunted for their ivory tusks, leading to population decline. However, conservation efforts have helped reduce this pressure in many areas. Today, walruses are considered vulnerable.

Narwhals

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros), often referred to as the 'unicorn of the sea', is a unique species of toothed whale, characterised by a long, spiral tusk protruding from its head. Narwhals are normally found along the coastal waters and rivers of the Arctic.

Narwhals have only two teeth. In females and some males, both of these teeth will remain undeveloped, though in most males, the left tooth will grow into a tusk more than three metres (9.8 feet) long. On very rare occasions, both males and females may develop two tusks. Interestingly, this tusk features a grooved spiral pattern. It's thought that these tusks enable narwhals to hunt as well as detect the salinity of the water in which they're swimming. The species has been hunted in the ivory trade for its distinct tusk.

Globally, narwhals are classed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. However, in the European region, they're classed as vulnerable.

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