Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is the same, regardless of the species of origin, but ivory contains structures of mineralised collagen ...
Consequently, many tusk-bearing species have been hunted commercially and several are endangered. The ivory trade has been severely restricted by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Tusked animals in human care may undergo tusk trimming or removal for health and safety ...
The density of dentin in elephant tusks is why elephant ivory is more sought after than other animal ivory. Baby elephants have baby tusks that often grow up to two inches before they lose them ...
One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, as the animals are poached for their ivory tusks. Other threats to wild elephants include habitat destruction and conflicts with local people. Elephants are used as working animals in Asia.
In most animals, tusks are an example of elongated canines — the teeth that are used to rip apart food. ... there’s no difference between a tooth and a tusk, but ivory continues to be a major ...
Surrounding the tusks is a broad mat of stiff bristles ("mystacial vibrissae"), giving the walrus a characteristic whiskered appearance. There can be 400 to 700 vibrissae in 13 to 15 rows reaching 30 cm (12 in) in length, though in the wild they are often worn to much shorter lengths due to constant use in foraging. [32]
Although the amount of ivory being openly sold has decreased substantially since 2001, Thailand still has one of the largest and most active black markets for ivory seen anywhere in the world. Tusks from Thai-poached elephants also enter the market; between 1992 and 1997 at least 24 male elephants were killed for their tusks. [108]
Horns are projections from the top of the head. True horns are found mainly among: Ruminant artiodactyls. Antilocapridae (); Bovidae (cattle, goats, antelopes etc.).; Giraffidae: Giraffids have a pair of skin covered bony bumps on their heads, called ossicones.