The permanent teeth in most mammals develop about the same time.

But the twenty four molar teeth of an elephant grow in succession!

When the animal is young the first two molar teeth in

each side of the upper and lower jaw are in use.

Successive teeth grow, move forward from the rear and

come into use as the previous ones are worn out and lost.

By the time the elephant is 45 years old,

the last four teeth are in full use. The rest of the teeth have been lost.

These teeth are 12 inches long and weigh 9 pounds each.

Huge ridges on the teeth help the elephant to chew

the quarter ton of rough plant food per day.

By the time it is 65 years old, the last set of teeth wear away

and the animals living in wilderness

face starvation since they can’t chew food any more.