Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. As a venom delivery system, the movable fangs of a viper really get the job done. One species not only has the longest fangs of any venomous snake, but the highest venom yield as well. It is native to both savanna and rainforest in sub-saharan Africa. Sometimes called the forest puff adder or swampjack, by what name Bitis gabonica most commonly known?
2. The jaws of a great white shark rightly inspire fear. But that maw pales in comparison this prehistoric relative. In addition to teeth measuring up to 7" long, this ancient giant is thought to have had the strongest bite force of any creature yet known.
3. Which aquatic mammal possesses a single forward-facing tusk of up to ten feet in length, earning it the scientific name Monodon monoceros or "onetooth unicorn"?
4. But is size all that matters? What about sheer numbers? Does 1,000 teeth scare you, what about 10,000? Well that's nowhere near the most. Some species of what animal can have as many as 100,000 teeth?
5. If you check out the chompers of certain sea otters, you'll find they are distinctly purple in color. What is the cause of this differently tinted dentition?
6. One of the nastiest sets of teeth in the world belongs to the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Even a small bite from one of these giant lizards can be fatal. In addition to the shock and blood loss caused by the powerful jaws and sharp teeth, a cocktail of septic bacteria in the saliva can infect and overcome the victim. But recent tests have confirmed the presence of what other factor contributing to the potency of a dragon's attack?
7. The largest teeth of all time are the tusks of the proboscideans (elephants, mammoths and mastodons) with those of the now extinct straight-tusked mastodon reaching lengths of over 16 feet and weighing over 300lbs. These tusks are a modified form of which type of tooth?
8. Some of the largest creatures on earth, whales, have lost their teeth altogether. The teeth have been replaced by filtering plates known as what?
9. An elephant's tusks aren't the only things that set them apart. Their molars are the largest and heaviest in the animal kindom as well. However, they use only one set of chewing teeth (pre-molars or molars) at a time. How many times can an elephant replace its chewing teeth in its lifetime?
10. Despite their very impressive dentition, animals of the genus Smilodon are believed to have had a relatively weak bite. Dying out only 10,000 years ago their fearsome teeth are a noticeable feature in early cave paintings. By what name are Smilodon species commonly known?
Source: Author
brachypelma
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
