Case series details rare supernumerary tusks in African elephants

A newly described case series is putting a rare elephant dental anomaly into clearer clinical focus: supernumerary tusks in African savanna elephants. Writing in Animals, Gerhard Steenkamp and Sonja C. Boy detail four cases in which two to five tusk structures occupied a single alveolus, with presentations ranging from incidental findings to deformity and behavior change. In the lead clinical case, selective removal of accessory tusks preserved the primary tusk, which continued to erupt and function normally over a 36-month follow-up. (preprints.org)

That matters because supernumerary teeth are well recognized in humans and domestic animals, but they’ve been only sparsely documented in elephants. Historical references have used the term “tusklet,” yet the authors say those reports lacked detailed clinical evaluation, surgical management, and longitudinal follow-up. Their paper argues these are better understood as supernumerary tusks, or supernumerary teeth in a continuously growing tusk system, rather than as a simple segmentation defect or an odontoma-like lesion. (preprints.org)

The four elephants in the series included both sexes and animals from juvenile to mature adult age classes. In all clinically documented cases, the left tusk was affected, and the abnormal alveolus contained multiple distinct tusk structures. One dry specimen contained five tusks joined coronally, each with its own pulp canal. In the surgically managed case, the elephant first presented with a deformed left tusk and behavioral abnormalities, and clinicians treated the cavity with calcium hydroxide and a temporary epoxy resin covering before selectively removing the accessory structures. The preserved primary tusk remained functional and showed normal morphology and wear three years later. (preprints.org)

On mechanism, the paper is careful not to overclaim. The authors review standard explanations for supernumerary teeth, including atavism, splitting of the tooth germ, localized hyperactivity of the dental lamina, hereditary influence, and trauma, but conclude that none fully explains these elephant cases. They suggest the lifelong growth of elephant tusks may allow developmental or reparative processes not seen in conventional rooted teeth. In one case, severe early-life tusk fracture preceded later recognition of multiple tusk structures, which supports trauma as a possible contributor in at least some animals, though not a complete explanation. (preprints.org)

Industry context supports the clinical relevance. Prior multi-institutional work on managed elephants found tusk fractures are not rare, with 134 fractures reported in 85 elephants across 50 institutions, and that tusk-related pathology can be shaped by social interactions, enclosure contact, and management conditions. That earlier survey explicitly included “supernumerary tusks” among pre-existing tusk pathologies captured in case reporting, suggesting clinicians already recognize the anomaly as relevant even if published detail has been limited. Current elephant dentistry guidance also emphasizes tusk preservation when feasible, with extraction reserved for cases where conservative or restorative management is unlikely to succeed. (pdfs.semanticscholar.org)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, this case series expands the diagnostic framework for elephants presenting with tusk asymmetry, unusual eruption patterns, multiple coronal openings, recurrent local trauma, or behavior changes that could reflect discomfort. It also reinforces a practical point: radiography may not answer the question. In the index case, conventional imaging was non-diagnostic because of the density and dimensions of the tusk and surrounding alveolar bone, so clinical examination, serial observation, and careful surgical judgment carried the case. Preserving the primary tusk is especially important because tusks are integral to feeding, digging, manipulation, social behavior, and defense. (preprints.org)

The report may also be useful beyond elephants. For zoo, wildlife, and veterinary dental teams, it’s a reminder that continuously growing dentitions can behave differently from brachydont teeth, both developmentally and during healing. That’s consistent with prior tusk literature showing that elephant pulp can demonstrate substantial reparative capacity and that conservative treatment can sometimes maintain function after injury. (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

What to watch: The next step is likely more case accumulation rather than an immediate practice guideline change. The authors call for further clinical, developmental, and histopathologic investigation to determine how common these lesions are, whether trauma truly plays a causal role, and which cases can be monitored versus surgically managed. If more centers publish comparable cases, elephant dentistry may move toward clearer definitions and treatment pathways for supernumerary tusks. (preprints.org)