{"id":2456,"date":"2022-04-03T14:04:18","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T06:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=2456"},"modified":"2023-04-26T04:49:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T20:49:34","slug":"do-ants-have-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Ants Have Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Yes, ants have teeth called mandibular teeth. They&#8217;re attached to a pair of external appendages called the mandibles. These teeth aid these mandibles in moving objects and processing food. They&#8217;re also used by ants as weapons to attack or defend themselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we&#8217;ll learn more about ant teeth as we discuss the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Difference between mandibles and teeth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How many teeth ants have<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What ant teeth are made of<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What ants use their teeth for<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-teeth-b-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"do ants have teeth\" class=\"wp-image-3378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-teeth-b-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-teeth-b-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-teeth-b-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-teeth-b.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Myrmecia_nigrocincta_(Australian_Bull_Ant).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Matt Inman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Mandibles_vs_Ant_Teeth\" title=\"Mandibles vs Ant Teeth\">Mandibles vs Ant Teeth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#How_Many_Teeth_Do_Ants_Have\" title=\"How Many Teeth Do Ants Have?\">How Many Teeth Do Ants Have?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#What_Are_Ant_Teeth_Made_Of\" title=\"What Are Ant Teeth Made Of?\">What Are Ant Teeth Made Of?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#What_Do_Ants_Use_Their_Teeth_For\" title=\"What Do Ants Use Their Teeth For?\">What Do Ants Use Their Teeth For?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Moving_Objects\" title=\"Moving Objects\">Moving Objects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Processing_of_Food\" title=\"Processing of Food\">Processing of Food<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Hunting_and_Defense\" title=\"Hunting and Defense\">Hunting and Defense<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Related_Questions\" title=\"Related Questions\">Related Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Do_Ants_Bite\" title=\"Do Ants Bite?\">Do Ants Bite?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Do_Ants_Have_Hearts\" title=\"Do Ants Have Hearts?\">Do Ants Have Hearts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Do_Ants_Have_Bones\" title=\"Do Ants Have Bones?\">Do Ants Have Bones?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-teeth\/#Summary_Do_Ants_Have_Teeth\" title=\"Summary: Do Ants Have Teeth?\">Summary: Do Ants Have Teeth?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mandibles_vs_Ant_Teeth\"><\/span>Mandibles vs Ant Teeth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mandibles and teeth are not the same. Mandibles are a pair of appendages that function as jaws. They contain ant teeth in what&#8217;s called the masticatory margin. Simply put, these <strong>mandibles are what contain ant teeth, not the teeth themselves<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Teeth_Do_Ants_Have\"><\/span>How Many Teeth Do Ants Have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-antennae-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-antennae-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-antennae-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-antennae-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-antennae.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/roverhate-1759589\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1193472\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ronny Overhate<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1193472\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of ant teeth varies between species. <strong>Primitive ants only had 2 teeth<\/strong>, the apical and pre-apical teeth. These teeth were connected to their short, curved mandibles. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Morphological_and_Functional_Diversity_of_Ant_Mandibles\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Morphological_and_Functional_Diversity_of_Ant_Mandibles\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern ants however have more. <strong>They have the same 2 teeth plus a varied number depending on their mandibular structure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, <em>Ectatomma tuberculatum<\/em> ants have mandibles with lengthened masticatory margins. They are nearly toothless. On the other hand, <em>Amblyopone pallipes <\/em>ants, have a lot of teeth. This is because their mandibles lack a distinct basal angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Ant_Teeth_Made_Of\"><\/span>What Are Ant Teeth Made Of?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ant teeth are made primarily of <strong>chitin and proteins that bind individual atoms of zinc<\/strong>. These zinc atoms make up 8 percent of the tooth&#8217;s weight. They are uniformly arranged and distributed on the tip of each tooth. They enhance hardness, maintain tooth sharpness, and maximize cutting efficiency.\u00a0[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2021\/09\/210901090044.htm\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2021\/09\/210901090044.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ant teeth cut like a scalpel due to these zinc atoms. They allow ants to use less force and spend less energy when using their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Do_Ants_Use_Their_Teeth_For\"><\/span>What Do Ants Use Their Teeth For?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants use their teeth along with their mandibles to do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moving_Objects\"><\/span>Moving Objects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants have no hands. Therefore, they use their mandibles to <strong>move different objects<\/strong> like food and water. For example, foraging ants bite down on food to carry it back to their nests.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same way, ants use their teeth and mandibles to dig and carry debris when <strong>building their nests.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Processing_of_Food\"><\/span>Processing of Food<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants decomposers or consumers\" class=\"wp-image-2112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/francok35-631285\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=827820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">FRANCO PATRIZIA<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=827820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants use their teeth to process food. Specifically, their teeth aid the mandibles in <strong>tearing, puncturing, and grinding food<\/strong>. They do this to make food easier to carry and eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hunting_and_Defense\"><\/span>Hunting and Defense<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants use their teeth as <strong>weapons to either attack or defend themselves<\/strong>. Predatory ants, for example, use their teeth to decapitate or dismember their prey. In the same way, ants also use their teeth to subdue smaller predators and competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Questions\"><\/span>Related Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/can-ants-see-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"can ants see\" class=\"wp-image-2186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/can-ants-see-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/can-ants-see-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/can-ants-see-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/can-ants-see-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Army_Ants_(Dorylus_sp.)_(7073859635).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Ants_Bite\"><\/span>Do Ants Bite?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, ants do bite. They <strong>bite by using their mandibles to pinch<\/strong> down on their victims. They often accompany these bites with venom-injecting stings. These stings deal most of the damage and can cause fatal reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Ants_Have_Hearts\"><\/span>Do Ants Have Hearts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, ants have hearts. These hearts come in the form of a <strong>dorsal vessel<\/strong>. This vessel is a long elongated tube that pumps hemolymph throughout their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-hearts\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2491\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ant hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Ants_Have_Bones\"><\/span>Do Ants Have Bones?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As invertebrates, <strong>ants don\u2019t have backbones or any type of internal bony structures<\/strong>. Instead, they have hard rigid exoskeletons made of chitin. These exoskeletons support and protect their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn why <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-have-bones\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2413\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ants don\u2019t have bones<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Do_Ants_Have_Teeth\"><\/span>Summary: Do Ants Have Teeth?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, ants have mandibular teeth attached to their mandibles. These teeth are made of chitin and proteins. They&#8217;re also infused with zinc atoms that enhance sharpness. Ants use these teeth to move objects, process food, and as weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of these teeth varies depending on the ant&#8217;s mandibular structure. All ants though have at least two, apical and pre-apical teeth.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, ants have teeth called mandibular teeth. They&#8217;re attached to a pair of external appendages called the mandibles. These teeth aid these mandibles in moving objects and processing food. They&#8217;re also used by ants as weapons to attack or defend themselves. In this article, we&#8217;ll learn more about ant teeth as we discuss the following:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}