African Elephant Upper Right Molar Replica

Description

African elephant upper right molar replica measures 2.3″L x 1.9″W x 1.0″H. From a 39 month old juvenile elephant. African elephant upper right molar replica is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast. Made in USA.

African elephant tooth replica Key Dental Facts

• Replacement Cycle: Teeth do not emerge vertically like humans; instead, they grow from the back, pushing forward.
• Molar Lifetime: An elephant has 6 sets of molars, with the final set typically appearing around age 30.
• Tooth Structure: African elephant molars have characteristic diamond-shaped enamel ridges.
• Weight & Size: A single molar can measure about 30 cm (12 in) long and weigh approximately 5 kg (11 lbs).
• Tusks: Both male and female African elephants have tusks, which are modified incisors that grow continuously.
• Cause of Death: Because the last set of molars wears down, starvation or malnutrition due to tooth loss is a leading cause of death elephants.

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Proboscidea
• Family: Elephantidae
• Genus: Loxodonta Anonymous, 1827
• Type species: Elephas africana Blumenbach, 1797
• Temporal range: Late Miocene Present, 7–0 Ma

Collectors interested in the ontogeny of the species can supplement this adult specimen with the African elephant juvenile molar tooth. This side by side pairing is an essential tool for educators wanting to show the evolutionary success of the elephant’s polyphyodont dental structure.