This article is about the dental construct. For the Bantu tribe found in eastern equatorial Africa, see Fang people. For other uses, see Fang (disambiguation).
A fang is a long, pointed tooth.[1] In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom).[2]Spiders also have external fangs, which are part of the chelicerae.
The four canines, or fangs, of a domestic cat. (The largest two teeth of the top and bottom rows of teeth.)
Fangs are most common in carnivores or omnivores, but some herbivores, such as fruit bats, have them as well. They are generally used to hold or swiftly kill prey, such as in large cats. Omnivorous animals, such as bears, use their fangs when hunting fish or other prey, but they are not needed for consuming fruit. Some apes also have fangs, which they use for threats and fighting. However, the relatively short canines of humans are not considered to be fangs.
Certain mythological and legendary creatures such as dragons, gargoyles, demons and yakshas are commonly depicted with prominent fangs. The fangs of vampires are one of their defining characteristics.
The iconographic representation of some Hindu deities include fangs, to symbolize the ability to hunt and kill. Two examples are fierce warrior goddess Chamunda and god of death Yama in some iconographic representations. Fangs are also common among guardian figures such as Verupaksha in Buddhism art in China and East Asia,[3] as well as Rangda in Balinese Hinduism.[4]
^Vonk, Freek J.; Admiraal, Jeroen F.; Jackson, Kate; Reshef, Ram; de Bakker, Merijn A. G.; Vanderschoot, Kim; van den Berge, Iris; van Atten, Marit; Burgerhout, Erik (July 2008). "Evolutionary origin and development of snake fangs". Nature. 454 (7204): 630–633. Bibcode:2008Natur.454..630V. doi:10.1038/nature07178. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 18668106. S2CID 4362616.
^Asa Simon Mittman; Peter J. Dendle (2013). The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous. Ashgate. p. 229 with Figure 9.7. ISBN978-1-4724-1801-2.
^. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
External links
Look up fang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
An overview of the diversity and evolution of snake fangs
May 04, 2023
fang, this, article, about, dental, construct, bantu, tribe, found, eastern, equatorial, africa, people, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, . This article is about the dental construct For the Bantu tribe found in eastern equatorial Africa see Fang people For other uses see Fang disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Fang news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message A fang is a long pointed tooth 1 In mammals a fang is a modified maxillary tooth used for biting and tearing flesh In snakes it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland see snake venom 2 Spiders also have external fangs which are part of the chelicerae The four canines or fangs of a domestic cat The largest two teeth of the top and bottom rows of teeth Fangs are most common in carnivores or omnivores but some herbivores such as fruit bats have them as well They are generally used to hold or swiftly kill prey such as in large cats Omnivorous animals such as bears use their fangs when hunting fish or other prey but they are not needed for consuming fruit Some apes also have fangs which they use for threats and fighting However the relatively short canines of humans are not considered to be fangs Contents 1 Fangs in religion mythology and legend 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksFangs in religion mythology and legend EditCertain mythological and legendary creatures such as dragons gargoyles demons and yakshas are commonly depicted with prominent fangs The fangs of vampires are one of their defining characteristics The iconographic representation of some Hindu deities include fangs to symbolize the ability to hunt and kill Two examples are fierce warrior goddess Chamunda and god of death Yama in some iconographic representations Fangs are also common among guardian figures such as Verupaksha in Buddhism art in China and East Asia 3 as well as Rangda in Balinese Hinduism 4 Halloween costumer with vampire fangs Hindu god of death Yama with fangs Hindu warrior goddess Chamunda Dragon head on the replica ship Hugin Snake fangsSee also EditTuskReferences Edit Fang Definition of Fang by Merriam Webster Vonk Freek J Admiraal Jeroen F Jackson Kate Reshef Ram de Bakker Merijn A G Vanderschoot Kim van den Berge Iris van Atten Marit Burgerhout Erik July 2008 Evolutionary origin and development of snake fangs Nature 454 7204 630 633 Bibcode 2008Natur 454 630V doi 10 1038 nature07178 ISSN 0028 0836 PMID 18668106 S2CID 4362616 Asa Simon Mittman Peter J Dendle 2013 The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous Ashgate p 229 with Figure 9 7 ISBN 978 1 4724 1801 2 Rangda Asian Art Museum Archived from the original on 24 October 2011 Retrieved 11 March 2018 External links Edit Look up fang in Wiktionary the free dictionary An overview of the diversity and evolution of snake fangs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fang amp oldid 1144955838, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
