Topic summary
Tusks
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Tusk.
Function
Tusks have a variety of uses depending on the animal. Social displays of dominance, particularly among males, are common, as is their use in defense against attackers. Elephants use their tusks as digging and boring tools. Walruses use their tusks to grip and haul themselves onto ice. It has been suggested that tusks' structure has evolved to be compatible with extra-oral environments.