Chimpanzee Teeth: Everything You Need to Know

Chimpanzees are some of the smartest animals on the planet. However, chimpanzees can be very aggressive as well. As they share 98% of human DNA, it is not surprising that chimpanzee teeth are almost the same as humans, except for the fact that they have bigger and more terrifying canines than we do. So, let’s learn more about chimpanzee teeth, including how they differ from humans.

What Kind of Teeth Do Chimpanzees Have?

Chimpanzees have the same dental structure as humans and many other mammals. The only difference is that their canines are bigger and way sharper than ours. Chimpanzees are primates, and primates have a complete set of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. 

Primates like chimpanzees (and humans) have a unique characteristic called heterodonty. This means that they possess a variety of teeth types that make them easier to determine among other mammals.

As you take a look at a chimpanzee’s mouth, you will see eight incisors. These incisors are followed by one canine tooth in each quadrant. Chimpanzees’ canines are long and sharp which may seem terrifying when they open their mouth wide. After the canines, the next teeth are the premolars and molars, collectively called “cheek teeth,” which help them chew and grind their food.

Chimpanzees use their incisors or front teeth to nip off food from trees, while they use their molars and premolars to grind, crush, and juice the plant materials they eat before digesting. 

How Many Teeth Do Chimpanzees Have?

Like most primates, adult chimpanzees have a total of 32 teeth unless disrupted by dental conditions. The typical dental formula for chimpanzees is: incisors 2/2, canines 1/1, premolars 2/2, and molars 3/3. 

The numbers above represent how many teeth a chimpanzee has in each quadrant or side of the jaw –top, bottom, left, and right. All in all, chimpanzees are expected to grow a total of 32 teeth inside their mouths, which include eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars in the middle of the jaws, and 12 molars at the rear portion of the mouth. Chimpanzees, however, do not possess the full complement of 32 teeth at birth. Like most primates, they have two sets of teeth that grow in one lifetime.

Do Chimpanzees Have Baby Teeth?

Chimpanzees are diphyodont, which means they grow two sets of teeth throughout their life. After birth, chimpanzees have only a few teeth, which are part of their deciduous set, commonly referred to as baby teeth. Deciduous teeth do not fall out all at once. As chimpanzees age, these baby teeth gradually fall out and permanent teeth erupt in their place. Chimpanzees typically get a complete set of permanent teeth at around 11 years of age.

Why Do Chimpanzees Have Sharp, Pointed Teeth?

Chimpanzees love to yawn or open their mouths to show off their teeth. And one thing you can easily notice about their mouths is a pair of really sharp fangs protruding behind the incisors. These canines are often used to help them tear their food into pieces, but since the chimpanzee’s diet consists mostly of plant matter, these canines are utilized mainly in threatening and fighting other chimpanzees or predators.

Although chimpanzees have canines in the very same location as humans, theirs are substantially bigger and longer than ours. Their diet might not explain directly why these canines are similar to carnivorous mammals, as chimpanzees eat a diet that is focused on plant-based materials, such as leaves, fruits, nuts, tree bark, figs, seeds, and flowers. Chimpanzees occasionally feed on very small amounts of meat, but still, this kind of diet wouldn’t need such large and terrifying canines.

Since these canine teeth aren’t used to chew food, chimpanzees use them as a threat. Large canines are indeed menacing, and chimpanzees often use them as a warning to other chimpanzees, predators in the wild, or even to humans.

Do Chimpanzees Bite?

Chimpanzees are generally wary of humans and tend to keep their distance, but they can become aggressive and attack if they feel threatened. Therefore, they can attack and even bite off fingers. Chimpanzees have been observed to target sensitive areas such as the face, hands, feet, and genitals during attacks on humans. Captive chimpanzees are often more likely to attack than chimpanzees in the wild, as they can lose their natural fear of people.

Despite being smaller than humans, chimpanzees can be quite aggressive and can be stronger than humans when they attack. Studies suggest that chimpanzees are around 1.35 times stronger and faster than an average human. Their muscle fibers can also help them outperform humans in tasks such as jumping and pulling.

A chimpanzee’s bite is strong enough to bite off a finger. Apart from that, a chimpanzee’s bite can also cause an infection, so a bite wound must immediately be cleaned with soap and running water and may require further medical attention.