Number 13 Vampire Bat The teeth of vampire bats are so sharp that even
mishandling their skulls in a museum can result in deep cuts. While hunting, these creatures emit
low-energy sound pulses to locate their victims. These are usually sleeping mammals which,
on occasion, may also include humans. They land and approach their target on the ground, using
thermoception to find a spot on their skin to bite into. This specialized sensory adaptation
involves infrared receptors that can detect the thermal radiation given off by their prey.
While research so far has been described as promising, science has yet to understand
how the bat’s remarkable infrared system works. Once a suitable spot has been found,
the bat will use its canine and cheek teeth like a barber’s razor, to remove any fur or hairs.
The vampire then makes an incision and starts feeding. Anticoagulants in the animal’s saliva
prolong bleeding as they inhibit blood clotting. Number 12 Goose
Geese, like all other bird species, don’t possess teeth. They do, however, have certain tooth-like
features that make them a worthy inclusion on our list. The edges of their beaks are serrated,
acting like a tiny saw against plants and grass. These edges aren’t made of the same material as
teeth and thus don’t feature enamel. They’re part of the beak and are made of spiky cartilage called
tomium. Moreover, geese also have small barbs on their tongues, made of the same material, which
help push food further down the bird’s oesophagus. Interestingly enough, some species of dinosaur,
from which birds hail, were ferociously toothed beasts. Birds actually evolved from theropods, the
same family of giant, dreaded carnivores like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus.
Number 11 Goblin Shark The goblin shark has been described as a
“living fossil” due to the fact that it’s the only surviving member of a lineage going back about 125
million years. The goblin shark’s appearance is quite different from that of other shark species.
Its snout is long and flat and it somewhat resembles a sword’s blade. The jaws
extend dramatically as the shark feeds, reaching almost to the end of its snout.
The animal’s teeth are, in the main part of the jaw, long, narrow and finely grooved. The teeth
at the corners of the jaw are smaller and their flattened shape is adapted for crushing prey.
The combination of sharp teeth and advanced protruding jaws places the goblin shark’s mouth
among the scariest in the ocean. Number 10 Leech
Some leech species have up to 300 razor-sharp teeth distributed in three rows of jaws. These
are highly effective cutting instruments that enable the leech to make incisions,
with surgical precision, and feed on the blood of its victims. The mark is typically in the shape of
the letter Y. In between their teeth, these worms have ducts which release an anticoagulant to keep
the blood flowing. One leech species, found in the nostrils of a Peruvian 9-year-old girl,
has been named after the T-Rex. Tyrannobdella owes the association with the prehistoric monster to
its disproportionately large teeth, of which it has only 8. What further differentiates
Tyrannobdella from other leech species is that it takes sustenance from the mucous membrane
that lines the upper respiratory tract of mammals. Number 9 Walrus
A walrus’ ivory tusks are redoubtable weapons which the animal can use to successfully fend
off polar bears and even killer whales. Walruses are enormous mammals, covered in rippling muscles
and a remarkably thick skin. Males use their saber-like tusks for fighting and dominance
displays. The teeth are strong enough to form breathing holes in ice and support the walrus’
body as it climbs out. Walruses have been known to attack humans with their tusks and capsize small
boats or kayaks. There have even been reports of these beasts breaking through the ice and chasing
hunters. A report from Greenland, in 1960, tells about a hunter who lost consciousness after a
walrus stabbed him with its tusk. As the man came to, he narrowly survived by clutching the dead
seal he’d been trying to pull onto the ice. Number 8 Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback turtles are not only the largest turtles on the planet but also count themselves
among the most massive of all reptilians. They’re described as the fastest-moving reptiles,
clocked in at close to 22 mph in the water. These incredible animals have been recorded at depths of
4,200 feet, which is greater than the height of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
The leatherback’s common name is derived from the animal’s lack of a bony shell. This aspect
differentiates it from modern sea turtles as the carapace is only covered by skin and oily flesh.
The leatherback’s open mouth is a nightmarish sight. The cavern-like inside is filled with
hundreds of spiked teeth. They’re curved at different angles, acting as an inescapable trap
for the turtle’s prey, which mainly consists of slippery jellyfish. The teeth are actually
called “papillae” and line the leatherback’s mouth all the way down the oesophagus and to its gut.
Number 7 Frilled Shark
The frilled shark is an elusive animal that generally lives at depths of a few thousand feet.
It has an eel-shaped body and exceptional specimens can grow to be up to 6 ft 6ins long,
meaning they’re about the size of Dwayne Johnson. The frilled shark’s common name is derived from
the six pairs of fringed gill slits, at its throat, that give it a frilly appearance. Its
snout is broad and flat while its jaws feature intricate dentition. The animal has roughly
300 trident-shaped teeth which are curved backwards towards the inside of its mouth.
The teeth are grouped in widely-spaced rows which number up to 28 in each jaw. The frilled shark’s
teeth are adapted for snagging and capturing prey, such as soft-bodied cephalopods, fish and smaller
shark species. Once the frilly shark closes its jaws on its victim, escape is comparable to
swimming through lines of barbed wire. Number 6 Narwhal
The narwhal is in the same whale family as the beluga and it can be found year-round in Arctic
waters, off the coast of Canada, Greenland and Russia. Sometimes referred to as the “sea
unicorn” the narwhal’s most distinguishing feature is a long spike protruding from its head. This is
actually a modified canine tooth that projects from the upper jaw, through the lip, in a slight
corkscrew. It can grow to over 10 feet, meaning that it exceeds the tallest human on record by
a considerable margin. The purpose of the tusk is still a matter of debate in the scientific
community. Analysis has revealed millions of nerve endings, suggesting that it acts
as a sensory organ, feeding information about external stimuli to the narwhal’s brain. Another
theory is that it’s used as a weapon, similar to a spear. This is a rather unnerving perspective
considering the fact that it’s attached to an animal that can weigh over 3,500 pounds,
meaning it’s heavier than the average car. Number 5 Hagfish
The hagfish is an eel-shaped marine creature that lives in cold seawater, in burrows at
depths of roughly 4,260 feet. These creatures are also occasionally known as slime eels.
That’s because they secrete abundant amounts of slime, from special pores throughout their bodies,
as a defense mechanism. Their teeth aren’t attached to vertically-activated jaws, as in
the case of most vertebrates. Instead, two pairs of comb like teeth emerge from horizontal slits
and rest on a cartilaginous plate. The terrifying natural mechanism protracts and retracts to grasp
food and draw it towards the hagfish’s pharynx. This jawless creature has been studied in the
scope of natural evolution as it’s remained very similar to the hagfish of 300 million years ago.
Number 4 Crabeater Seal
Crabeater seals are the natural kingdom’s most abundant seal species. They can be found primarily
on drift ice that extends from the Antarctic coast. The reason why these animals have achieved
such high numbers has to do with their specialized teeth. In spite of its common name, this seal
doesn’t eat crab but is rather exceptionally adapted for consuming Antarctic krill.
Its teeth are finely divided and feature multiple cusps while the animal also owns a
bony protuberance at the back of its mouth. These physical adaptations are completed by the tight
fit of the seal’s upper and lower jaw to form a near-perfect mesh that traps its crustacean prey.
Number 3 Babirusa The babirusa, also known as the deer-pig,
is a species of swine native to the islands of Indonesia. This animal’s appearance has
been described as “prehistoric” mainly due to the male’s enormous canines. The upper teeth
break through the skin and curve backwards, over the face, and towards the beast’s forehead. The
lower canines grow upwards as well. The animal’s unusual and ferocious physical features have
inspired cave paintings in Sulawesi that go back at least 35,400 years. Indonesian culture also
has demonic masks inspired by the babirusa. Today's topic was inspired by salty_egg.
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in the comments section below Number 2 Goliath Tigerfish
The name M’Benga comes from a Swahili dialect and translates as
“the dangerous fish”. It’s what inhabitants near the Congo River Basin call the Goliath tigerfish,
a highly predatory freshwater monster that has been known to attack humans.
Each of its teeth can grow to be about 1 inch long and is fitted in a distinct groove along
the beast’s jaw. The teeth are perfectly adapted for inflicting devastating puncture wounds.
The Goliath can grow to be quite large, at nearly 5 feet and over 110 pounds.
It’s also very strong and aggressive, a reason why anglers often consider it to be the greatest
freshwater gamefish in the world. Number 1 Sea Lamprey
The sea lamprey is a jawless fish native to the Northern Hemisphere. The creature is sometimes
referred to as the “vampire fish”. Its mouth may grow to be wider than its head and features teeth
that are arranged in numerous concentric circular rows. In its adult stage,
this creature starts feeding on the blood of other fish. Its mouth works like a suction
cup and extracts blood from the incision that the lamprey makes with its teeth. The fish’s victims
usually succumb to blood loss or infection. Thanks for watching! What’s the worst experience
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