You might have come across images of cheerful dolphins flaunting their gleaming teeth. While dolphins are considered members of the whale family, it’s important to note that not all whales have teeth. In fact, whales can be categorized into two distinct groups within the order Cetacea: baleen whales and toothed whales.
As the name suggests, toothed whales possess teeth, which distinguishes them from their baleen counterparts. Baleen whales, on the other hand, are equipped with long, hair-like follicles called baleen that help them filter and consume food, such as small fish, krill, and plankton. Since their diet doesn’t require teeth, these whales specifically adapted to function without them. Most toothed whales, however, actively hunt and rely on their teeth to capture or chew their prey. Interestingly, just like humans, these whales have a single set of teeth that won’t grow back if lost, which is quite different from the multiple rows of replaceable teeth found in sharks.
Sperm Whale Teeth: The Largest Teeth of Any Whale
Sperm whales boast the most massive teeth among whale species. While they only have teeth on their lower jaw—with sockets in the upper jaw for teeth to rest—these teeth can still reach astonishing sizes. Averaging between 4 to 8 inches in length and weighing up to 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), sperm whale teeth are more than triple the size of those found in great white sharks, which usually don’t surpass 2.5 inches in length.
These colossal teeth are critical for hunting squid during the sperm whale’s deep-sea dives. The deepest recorded dive from a sperm whale reached almost 10,000 feet, where they prey on deepwater creatures such as giant squid, sharks, and rays. The substantial size of sperm whale teeth is essential for catching squids that can grow over 40 feet long, including their tentacles!
Interestingly, ancestral sperm whales possessed even more massive teeth! A relative of the sperm whale called Livyatan, which lived around 5 million years ago, had teeth extending up to 14 inches in length, giving it the largest known biting teeth of any animal.
What kinds of whales don’t have teeth?
Baleen whales, also known as mysticetes, lack teeth but make up for it with baleen plates that help them filter small fish and plankton from the ocean. These whales come in various sizes, from the colossal blue whale to the smaller gray and pygmy right whales. Some noteworthy examples include fin, sei, humpback, and right whales. The bowhead whale boasts the record for the lengthiest baleen, reaching up to 13 feet! Luckily, they don’t need to worry about brushing those impressive plates.
How Many Teeth Do Dolphins Have?
Dolphins, with 32 different species, exhibit some variations in their dental structures. Generally, they possess between 72 and 104 teeth. A prime example is the bottlenose dolphin, whose sharp and pointed teeth aid in catching prey, such as fish, crabs, shrimp, and squid. Although they don’t chew their food, dolphins skillfully use their beaks and teeth to grasp their prey and swallow it whole.
For instance, dolphins have a unique way of swallowing spikey fish: They grab the fish with their teeth and swallow it head first, preventing the spikes from causing harm as it goes down.
Killer Whale Teeth: Bigger Than a Great White!
Killer whales, also known as orcas, are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. They’re famous for their striking black and white coloration and can grow up to 32 feet in length. As you might expect, these massive marine creatures have equally impressive teeth.
An orca tooth can be more than 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, surpassing the size of a great white shark tooth, which typically measures around 2.5 inches in length. Killer whales have 40-56 interlocking, white teeth in their mouths and, unlike sharks, can’t regrow them if they’re lost.
These skilled hunters often work in groups, using their powerful teeth to tear into their prey. However, they actually swallow their food whole after breaking it into pieces. Depending on the group, orcas may prefer a diet of fish, like salmon, or focus on marine mammals such as sea lions, walruses, and seals.
Their impressive teeth, teamwork, and varied diet make them formidable predators in the ocean.
How are Dolphin and Porpoise Teeth Different?
Dolphins and porpoises both belong to the cetacean group, but they exhibit notable dental differences. Dolphins are characterized by having triangular, pointed teeth that assist them in catching their prey. On the other hand, porpoises possess flatter, spade-shaped teeth. Despite these differences, both dolphins and porpoises consume their food whole without chewing, with their preferred diet consisting of fish, crustaceans, and squid. Additionally, porpoises showcase a rounder face with little to no beak, while dolphins have a long, distinct beak.
What Kind of Whale Has Only One Tooth?
Among the unique whale species, one stands out for having only a single tooth. The narwhal sports an extraordinary feature resembling a unicorn horn, but it is, in fact, a tooth with a composition similar to tusks. This elongated, spiral tooth boasts a pointed tip and flexible ends, possibly safeguarding it from breaking.
Interestingly, a study comparing the narwhal’s tooth properties to those of human and cattle teeth, as well as reindeer antlers, discovered that the narwhal tooth is less mineralized and softer than human and cattle teeth. Its flexibility, however, shares similarities with that of reindeer antlers.
Not every narwhal has this distinctive horn-like tooth. Only males develop it, with a few rare exceptions of females growing a smaller version that eventually sheds. Some males may also lose their tooth and continue living without any issues. Occasionally, a male narwhal develops two teeth, one smaller than the other, or in even rarer cases, two equally long teeth.
Although narwhals use their horn-like teeth for hunting purposes, they don’t spear their prey. Instead, they may stun their prey by poking it and then lunge forward to swallow the prey whole, as they don’t have any other teeth.
What Kind of Whale Has Only Two Teeth?
Beaked whales are unique among toothed whales as they possess only two teeth. The Blainville beaked whale, for example, has a single tooth on each side of its face, resembling small rhino horns. With these teeth exposed to water and external elements, barnacles frequently grow on them, giving the appearance of star-shaped whiskers.
On the other hand, Cuvier’s beaked whales also exhibit two teeth, but these are tucked just below their front snout. Interestingly, only males have visible teeth, while females possess teeth that never fully emerge. For beaked whales, these teeth do not serve for chewing food. Instead, they play a crucial role during mating season, as males utilize them to engage in fights with other males.
These fascinating creatures showcase a unique dental composition among toothed whales, making them stand out among other species like the bowhead whale and beluga whale.