Woolly Mammoth Tooth Replica

Description

Woolly Mammoth Tooth Replica measures 11×3.5×10 inches. The Woolly Mammoth Tooth Replica is Museum quality Polyurethane cast made in USA. Mammuthus Meridonalis is the scientific name.

Woolly mammoth or Mammuthus Meridonalis had four functional molar teeth at a time, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower. About 9.1 inches of the crown was within the jaw, and 1 inch was above. The crown was continually pushed forwards and up as it wore down, comparable to a conveyor belt. The teeth had up to 26 separated ridges of enamel, which were themselves covered in “prisms” that were directed towards the chewing surface. These were quite wear-resistant and kept together by cementum and dentine.

A Woolly mammoth or Mammuthus Meridonalis had six sets of molars throughout a lifetime, which were replaced five times, though a few specimens with a seventh set are known. The latter condition could extend the lifespan of the individual, unless the tooth consisted of only a few plates. The first molars were about the size of those of a human, 0.51 inches. The molars grew larger and contained more ridges with each replacement. The woolly mammoth is considered to have had the most complex molars of any elephant.

Distortion in the molars is the most common health problem found in woolly mammoth or Mammuthus Meridonalis fossils. Sometimes, the replacement was disrupted, and the molars were pushed into abnormal positions, but some animals are known to have survived this. Teeth from Britain showed that 2 percent of specimens had periodontal disease, with half of these containing caries. The teeth also sometimes had cancerous growths.

Food at various stages of digestion has been found in the intestines of several woolly mammoths, giving a good picture of their diet. Woolly mammoths sustained themselves on plant food, mainly grasses and sedges, which were supplemented with herbaceous plants, flowering plants, shrubs, mosses, and tree matter. The composition and exact varieties differed from location to location. Woolly mammoths needed a varied diet to support their growth, like modern elephants. An adult of 6 tons would need to eat 397 lbs. daily.

Shop More Museum Quality Dinosaur Fossils in Dinosaur Fossil Store

Additional information