ELEPHANT-KERALA.COM
Tusks are enlarged upper incisor teeth. In African Elephant both male and female have tusks. But in Asian Elephants only bulls have tusks. The visible tusk consists of dentine covered with enamel. This dentine is known as the Ivory. The cross-section of the tusk give a diamond shaped pattern. This pattern is unique in elephant's tusk. Ivory has been called as 'white gold' and its price sometimes exceed the price of gold.
The tusks should grow downwards, rise up and then be evenly separated. The colour of the tusk is that of butter or sandalwood. In Kerala, these are considered as the auspicious signs of an elephant.
Males have larger tusks of up to 1.5-1.8m length.
Tusks are used for
Ripping of bark
Digging
Resting a heavy trunk
As weapons
Clear debris
Carry heavy loads up to one ton.
The heaviest tusk ever known belonged the Columbian mammoth these weighed 226kg!
The other creature to have ivory teeth is the Walrus ( large sea animal living in the Arctic region).