Supernumerary Tusks in African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana): A Case Series and Consideration of Developmental Mechanisms.
- 1Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Vantara, Jamnagar 361142, Gujarat, India.
- 2Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
- 3Lancet Laboratories, Pencardia Building, 509 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria 0083, South Africa.
Abstract
Supernumerary teeth are well recognised in humans and domestic animals but are rarely reported in elephants. This case series describes four African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) with multiple tusk structures occupying a single alveolus. A 7-year-old bull presented with a deformed left tusk and behavioural changes. Clinical examination revealed two coronal openings, followed by eruption of three accessory tusks. Conservative intracavitary treatment and selective surgical removal of the accessory tusks preserved the primary tusk, which maintained normal eruption and function at 36-month follow-up. Additional cases comprised a bull that developed three tusks after traumatic fracture and removal of the fractured tusk remnant, an adult female with two tusks in one alveolus, and a dry specimen composed of five tusks, each with a distinct pulp canal. The continued eruption, organised morphology, separate pulp canals, and surgical separability of these structures support their diagnosis as supernumerary tusks. The developmental mechanism remains uncertain, but lifelong odontogenic activity in elephant tusks may permit formation of independent dentine-producing structures, and trauma may contribute in some cases. Selective removal of accessory tusks while preserving the primary tusk can provide a favourable long-term outcome.
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BibTeX
@article{steenkamp2026supernumerary,
title = {{Supernumerary Tusks in African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana): A Case Series and Consideration of Developmental Mechanisms.}},
author = {Gerhard Steenkamp and Sonja Catharina Boy},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ani16192972},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882941},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Supernumerary Tusks in African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana): A Case Series and Consideration of Developmental Mechanisms.
AU - Gerhard Steenkamp
AU - Sonja Catharina Boy
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
DO - 10.3390/ani16192972
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882941
AB - Supernumerary teeth are well recognised in humans and domestic animals but are rarely reported in elephants. This case series describes four African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) with multiple tusk structures occupying a single alveolus. A 7-year-old bull presented with a deformed left tusk and behavioural changes. Clinical examination revealed two coronal openings, followed by eruption of three accessory tusks. Conservative intracavitary treatment and selective surgical removal of the accessory tusks preserved the primary tusk, which maintained normal eruption and function at 36-month follow-up. Additional cases comprised a bull that developed three tusks after traumatic fracture and removal of the fractured tusk remnant, an adult female with two tusks in one alveolus, and a dry specimen composed of five tusks, each with a distinct pulp canal. The continued eruption, organised morphology, separate pulp canals, and surgical separability of these structures support their diagnosis as supernumerary tusks. The developmental mechanism remains uncertain, but lifelong odontogenic activity in elephant tusks may permit formation of independent dentine-producing structures, and trauma may contribute in some cases. Selective removal of accessory tusks while preserving the primary tusk can provide a favourable long-term outcome.
SN - 2076-2615
ER -