Look at those Teeth! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Narwhal

The narwhal is a medium sized Arctic whale with black and white mottled skin. The males have a long, sinistrally (left) spiralling tusk. Occasionally, males grow two tusks. Some females have been known to grow tusks, and there is even one recorded instance of a female with two tusks. These tusks can grow up to 3 metres (9.8 feet).

Answer: Walrus

The walrus is a large and unique pinniped (seal, sealion and walrus family) with tusks reaching up to 96 cm (37.88 inches). These tusks are used to haul their large bodies out of the water and onto the icy or rocky islands where they rest.

Answer: Crabeater seal

Despite its name, the crabeater seal uses its intriguingly shaped teeth to sieve krill out of the water. They also occasionally prey on cephalopods and fish. They grow to an average length of 2.3 m (7.5 feet). As with many seal species, they are preyed on by orcas.

Answer: Strap-toothed beaked whale

The strap-toothed beaked whale is one of the most interesting cetaceans. The males have long, curved, strap-like teeth that bend backwards over their snout, preventing it from fully opening. They do not use their teeth for hunting, and instead create a suction to prey on squid.

Their striking colours present an interesting question. Most marine animals are countershaded for camouflage, meaning they are light on the bottom and dark on the top. However, in this whale, the colours are reversed.

Answer: Moray eel

Moray eels are perhaps the most well known eel family. When they latch onto a fish with their regular jaws, their "stomach jaws" (pharyngeal jaws) extend and pull the fish down to their stomachs. Giant morays are known to feed cooperatively with roving coral groupers. The groupers alert the morays to food stuck in small crevices, and the morays fit into the space and retrieve the food.

Answer: Elephant

At the time of writing there are three living species of elephant; African bush elephant, African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. Both males and females have tusks, and their family groups are matriarchal (led by females). Males leave their group as adults and either live alone or join groups of other males. They are closely related to dugongs and manatees.

Answer: Hippopotamus

Behind elephants and rhinoceroses, hippos are the largest land mammals. Their name translates to river horse (Greek hippos means horse, potamus means river). They are herbivores, but they are considered dangerous due to their unpredictable and territorial behaviour. There are records of attacks on humans.

Answer: Naked mole rat

Naked mole rats are burrowing rodents found in dry tropical grasslands in East Africa. They use their teeth for burrowing, and so they are located on the outside of their mouth to prevent them from swallowing dirt. They grow to 8-10 cm (3.15-3.9 inches).

Answer: Babirusa

Babirusa are in the swine family, and females have small or absent tusks. The males, however, have long curving tusks that reach over 40 cm (15.75 inches). These tusks curl back towards their heads, and sometimes grow so long that they pierce their skulls.

Answer: Great white shark

Great white sharks reach up to 6 m (19.68 feet). They have around 300 teeth that are constantly being replaced by further back teeth. They feed on fish and seals. They have a violent reputation but rarely fatally attack humans.