Elephant tusks are modified incisor teeth made of ivory and they have a pulp cavity with a nerve and blood supply which supports continuous tusk growth. Tusks can grow as much as 2-3 inches in a year. In African elephants, both male and female elephants can have large full visible tusks. In Asian elephants, only the males will get the big tusks. Asian elephant females can have tushes, which are very small and usually not visible. All tusks, however, are an inherited trait, and like eye & hair color in people, are passed down from their parents. There are genes for two tusks, one tusk and no tusks. Unfortunately, tusks are also one of the reasons elephants are endangered because of poaching. No one in the world needs an elephant’s tusk but an elephant.

Tusks can tell you a lot about an elephant.

No one needs an elephant’s tusk but an elephant.