Do Ants Have Teeth?
Ants have teeth called mandibular teeth, which as the name implies, are attached to their mandibles, a pair of external appendages connected next to their mouths. These teeth aid the mandibles in moving objects, processing food, and in attacking or defending themselves.
In this article, we’ll differentiate ant teeth from mandibles and look into how many teeth ants have, what they’re made of, and further discuss what they’re used for.
Mandibles Vs Ant Teeth
Ant mandibles and teeth have sometimes been described as the same thing. However, this isn’t technically true as mandibles aren’t teeth, they’re jaws. In fact, these mandibles are actually what contain ant teeth in what’s called the masticatory margin. Simply put, the mandibles are jaws where the actual ant teeth are attached.
How Many Teeth Do Ants Have?
Primitive ants had two teeth, the apical and pre-apical teeth, connected to their short, curved mandibles. Modern ants however, have these two teeth plus a varied number of additional teeth depending on variations of the mandibular structure.
For instance, the ant species Ectatomma tuberculatum, have mandibles with lengthened masticatory margins and are nearly toothless. On the other hand, the ant species Amblyopone pallipes, have numerous teeth on their mandibles that lack a distinct basal angle.
Other ants with numerous teeth include Myrmecocystus and Formica ants.
What Are Ant Teeth Made Of?
Ant mandibles and teeth are made primarily of chitin and proteins that tightly bind individual atoms of zinc. This zinc, as studies have found, makes up 8 percent of the tooth weight and is uniformly arranged and distributed on the tip of each tooth so as to enhance hardness, maintain tooth sharpness, and maximize cutting efficiency.
Scientists note that the presence of these zinc atoms allow ants to use around 60% less force than they would need to if their teeth were made with the same material as ours. This means that ant teeth allow ants to use less force and spend less energy while still getting the job done.
What Do Ants Use Their Teeth For?
As mentioned, ants use their teeth to aid their mandibles in moving objects, processing food, and in attacking or defending themselves. Let’s dig deeper into each.
Moving Objects. Because ants have no hands, they make use of their mandibles and teeth to move different sorts of objects from food and water to dirt and debris. For example, foraging ants bite down on food to hold on to it and carry it back to their nests. In the same way, when ants make nests, they use their mandibles to dig, then bite down to hold and carry debris that they intend to clear out.
Processing Of Food. As a mouthpart, it goes without saying that ants use their teeth to process food. To be specific, their teeth aid the mandibles in tearing, puncturing and grinding food.
Hunting And Defense. Ants can use their teeth as weapons to either attack or defend themselves. Predatory ants, for example, use their teeth to decapitate or dismember their prey. In the same way, ants can also use their teeth to subdue smaller predators and competitors.
Related Questions
Do Ants Have Bones?
As invertebrates, ants don’t have backbones or any type of internal bony structures. Instead, they have exoskeletons, hard rigid external skeletons made of chitin, which support and protect their bodies.
Summary: Do Ants Have Teeth?
Ants have mandibular teeth attached to an external pair of mandibles. The number of these teeth vary depending on species and their mandibular structure, but ants generally have at least two, the apical and pre-apical teeth.
These teeth are composed of the same material that makes up their exoskeletons, chitin and proteins. They are also infused with zinc atoms that enhance sharpness and prevent dullness from wear.
They use these teeth to aid their mandibles in moving and manipulating objects, processing food, and as weapons to attack or defend themselves.
