Pacific Walrus at Cape Peirce

Men with African Elephant tusks, Dar es Salaam, c. 1900

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

• Carved Ivory Tusk
• Wild boar ivory and silver toast rack from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Objects made from ivory and marine ivory in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa