Fang
{{Short description|Pointed specialized tooth}}
{{About|the tooth|the tribe in Africa|Fang people|other uses}}
Image:Fangs 01 rfc1036.jpg, or fangs, of a domestic cat. (The largest two teeth of the top and bottom rows of teeth.)]]
A fang is a long, pointed tooth.{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fang|title=Fang - Definition of Fang by Merriam-Webster}} 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).{{Cite journal|last1=Vonk|first1=Freek J.|last2=Admiraal|first2=Jeroen F.|last3=Jackson|first3=Kate|last4=Reshef|first4=Ram|last5=de Bakker|first5=Merijn A. G.|last6=Vanderschoot|first6=Kim|last7=van den Berge|first7=Iris|last8=van Atten|first8=Marit|last9=Burgerhout|first9=Erik|date=July 2008|title=Evolutionary origin and development of snake fangs|journal=Nature|volume=454|issue=7204|pages=630–633|doi=10.1038/nature07178|pmid=18668106|bibcode=2008Natur.454..630V|s2cid=4362616 |issn=0028-0836}} Spiders also have external fangs, which are part of the chelicerae.
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.
Fangs in religion, mythology and legend
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.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfkJAgAAQBAJ&dq=fangs%20feature%20of%20vampires&pg=PT81 | title=The Vampire in Contemporary Popular Literature | isbn=978-1-135-05337-6 | last1=Piatti-Farnell | first1=Lorna | date=7 November 2013 | publisher=Routledge }}
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,{{cite book|author1=Asa Simon Mittman|author2=Peter J. Dendle|title=The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdtSQ9v9T3IC&pg=PA229|year=2013|publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-1-4724-1801-2|page=229 with Figure 9.7}} as well as Rangda in Balinese Hinduism.{{cite web|url=http://67.52.109.59:8080/emuseum/view/objects/asitem/id/24253|title=Rangda - Asian Art Museum|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024195033/http://67.52.109.59:8080/emuseum/view/objects/asitem/id/24253|archive-date=24 October 2011|url-status=dead}}
See also
References
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External links
{{wiktionary|fang}}
- [http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2013/09/basics-of-snake-fangs.html An overview of the diversity and evolution of snake fangs]
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