Animals With Multiple Sets of Teeth

25 JAN 2024

Credit: Google Images

Credit: Google Images

Manatees

Manatees don’t have biting teeth because they don’t really need them to eat aquatic plants. Instead, they have grinding teeth that help with the foods they break down.

Credit: Google Images

Kangaroos

Kangaroos are one of three known mammals with multiple sets of teeth. They are known grazers and like to spend the dusk and dawn hours grazing on grass, leaves, flowers, and other plant matter.

Credit: Google Images

Elephants

In addition to their massive tusks that never stop growing, elephants have massive molars used for grinding the plant material that makes up an elephant’s diet. As the molars are worn down from use, they start to migrate forward and are eventually pushed out of the elephant’s mouth.

Credit: Google Images

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons are unique because they are one of the few vertebrates known to have both polyphyodont and monophyodont teeth. Though bearded dragon teeth are especially small and hard to see at birth, they need them to chew through vegetation and insects.

Credit: Google Images

Geckos

Geckos are another popular reptilian pet, but did you know they are constantly losing and replacing their teeth? They have around 100 teeth in their mouth and replace these teeth every 3-4 months.

Credit: Google Images

Snakes

Most people are aware that some snake species have fangs that protrude from their mouths, but fewer people are aware they also have teeth. Certain snakes have thin, sharp teeth that actually aren’t very strong. In fact, it’s pretty common for snake teeth to break.

Credit: Google Images

Alligators and Crocodiles

Crocodiles have really powerful jaws that put a lot of pressure on their teeth. What they don’t have, however, is strong enamel. It also explains why they’d need to have the ability to replace these teeth- as carnivores, crocodiles and alligators rely on their teeth to kill and eat prey.