Tusk

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Tusks of wild boar
MFA# RES.84.30

Description

A large protruding tooth found in elephants, walruses, narwhals, and boars. Tusks, like teeth, have a soft center surrounded by hard dentin primarily composed of calcium hydroxyapatite with smaller amounts of calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, magnesium phosphate, and ossein. A hard durable enamel forms a smooth outer surface. See also Elephant tusk, Mammoth tusk, Narwhal tusk, Walrus tusk, and Wild boar tusk.