Tusk

Tusk

A tusk is an extremely long incisor tooth of certain mammals that protrudes when the mouth is closed. Tusk-bearing mammals include elephants, warthogs, wild boar, walruses, and narwhals.Tusks are used by humans to produce ivory, which is used in artifacts and jewelry, and formerly in other items such as piano keys.

Since most tusk-bearing mammals are endangered (especially the African elephant), the ivory trade is severely restricted by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is unknown if or when this restriction will end.

External links

* [http://www.nmafa.si.edu/resource/art/tusk.jpgCarved Ivory Tusk]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=173818&coltype=history&regno=gh004530 Wild boar ivory and silver toast rack from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/search.aspx?term=Ivory Objects made from ivory and marine ivory in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]


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  • Tusk — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Donald Tusk (* 1957), polnischer Politiker und Premierminister Łukasz Tusk (* 1985), polnischer Politiker Tusk bezeichnet: Tusk (Film), Film von Alejandro Jodorowsky ein Musikalbum der Alternative Rock… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • tusk — [tusk] n. [ME, by metathesis < OE tucs, akin to OFris tusk < PGmc * tunth ska < * tunth , * tanth : see TOOTH] 1. in elephants, wild boars, walruses, etc., a very long, large, pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, projecting outside the… …   English World dictionary

  • Tusk — Tusk, n. [OE. tusk, the same word as tusch, AS. tusc. See {Tush} a tooth.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the elongated incisor or canine teeth of the wild boar, elephant, etc.; hence, any long, protruding tooth. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A toothshell,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tusk — puede referirse a: Donald Tusk (n. 1957), político polaco; Tusk (1979), disco del grupo musical Fleetwood Mac; Tusk (1980), película de Alejandro Jodorowsky. Esta página de desambiguación cataloga artículos relacionados con el mismo título …   Wikipedia Español

  • tusk — tusk·er; tusk·less; tusk; …   English syllables

  • Tusk — Tusk, n. (Zo[ o]l.) Same as {Torsk}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tusk — Tusk, v. i. To bare or gnash the teeth. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tusk — O.E. tux, tusc, cognate with O.Fris. tusk, probably from P.Gmc. *tunthskaz (Cf. Goth. tunþus tooth ), extended form of the root of TOOTH (Cf. tooth). But there are no certain cognates outside Anglo Frisian …   Etymology dictionary

  • tusk — təsk n an elongated greatly enlarged tooth that projects when the mouth is closed and serves for digging food or as a weapon broadly a long protruding tooth …   Medical dictionary

  • tusk — [tʌsk] n [: Old English; Origin: tux] one of a pair of very long pointed teeth, that stick out of the mouth of animals such as ↑elephant s …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tusk — [ tʌsk ] noun count one of the two very long pointed teeth on an animal such as an elephant or a WALRUS …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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