You can see detailed images of this unusual arrangement here. This important adaptation means that a new tooth can be ready for use as soon as the old tooth falls out. Are Alligator Teeth Hollow?īeing hollow allows space for new teeth to grow beneath the old. They can also survive for long periods with very few remaining teeth. We now know that alligators can die of old age. You may have heard that alligators can live forever, but die of starvation once their teeth stop re growing. Older animals ( around 50 years of age or above) often have very few teeth remaining. Scientists have found that alligators can regenerate their teeth around 50 times throughout their lifespan.
This ability ensures that the alligator never loses its smile, and retains the ability to catch prey. Stem cells are present in the alligator’s jaw and become activated when teeth break away.īeneath each current tooth lies another, ready to be quickly replaced if necessary.īeneath the “backup” tooth are groups of stem cells, which begin to form a new next tooth as soon as one is lost.įun Fact: These groups of teeth and stem cells are known as “family units”. They hope that it may hold secrets that can improve modern dental medicine.Īlligators’ ability to regrow teeth owes to the presence of “stem cells” – unspecialized cells that can form the basis of new tissues in the body. Researchers at the University of Southern California have been studying this remarkable ability. Thankfully, alligators can regrow their teeth. Do Alligators Regrow Their Teeth?ĭue to the crushing, 2980 PSI bite of the alligator, teeth can break off regularly. A gharial – the world’s toothiest crocodilian – showcases its needle-like teeth. The gharial’s teeth are needle-like in appearance, adapted for its specialist, fish-eating diet. In it’s long, unusual snout, the gharial can house 110 teeth! The toothiest of all crocodilians is the Indian Gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus). How Many Teeth Do Alligators Have?Īlligators can have between 70 and 80 teethin their jaws at any point in their life.Ĭrocodiles – on the other hand – have around 60 teeth ( but this varies by species). The overall robustness of alligator teeth allows them to withstand the crushing force of the alligator’s jaws. Smaller, blunt teeth help the alligator crush hard-shelled organisms – particularly turtles. Larger, more pointed teeth help them to grip slippery prey such as fish. Like mammals, alligators have different teeth for slightly different functions. If you look at any alligator (or crocodile), you’ll notice that not all teeth are the same size. Instead, they have more of a conical shape. Unlike human teeth, alligator teeth are not flattened. They are covered in a thick layer of white enamel, just like our own teeth. For the most part, they have an elongated, robust, and slightly curved appearance. What Do Alligator Teeth Look Like?Īlligator teeth do vary a little by species. Gator diets consist mostly of fish, though they also eat turtles, snakes, birds, and small mammals.Įvidence of fruit consumption in alligators indicates that they may even be partial to a plant-based meal every once in a while!Īlligator teeth all share some common characteristics, which you’ll learn about in the next section. Some caimans strongly resemble true alligators – with dark coloration and broad snouts – while others ( particularly the dwarf caiman) look quite bizarre. The black caiman is one of the largest predators in South America, but still quite a bit smaller than the largest crocodile species, which can exceed 20 ft in length!Ĭaimans are fairly diverse in appearance. The largest alligator species is the black caiman ( Melanosuchus niger) which can exceed 16 ft in length! (Tip: Read about the largest CROCODILE and the actual difference between crocodiles and alligators.) …along with six species known as the “caimans”, native to Central and South America.The Chinese Alligator ( Alligator sinensis) – A relatively small species endemic to China.The American Alligator ( Alligator mississipiensis) – A large species endemic to the Southeastern US.There are two “ true” alligators (genus: Alligator): They have been separate from the crocodiles for around 90 million years. The alligators are a family of crocodilians that includes eight species in total. What is the difference between crocodile vs.We’ll also answer common questions, such as: Information about purchasing alligator teeth, such as ethics and cost.How alligator teeth are adapted to suit their diet.
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