Giraffe Teeth: Dental Formula, Function & Evolution

Adult giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) have 32 permanent teeth – a specialized herbivore dentition.

Dental Formula (One Side)

I 0/3, C 0/1, P 3/3, M 3/3 × 2 = 32

• Upper jaw: No incisors/canines; hard dental pad.
• Lower jaw: 3 incisors + 1 canine (procumbent, incisiform) = 4 "front teeth" – used for stripping leaves.
• Premolars & Molars (cheek teeth): 3P + 3M each side, upper & lower = 24 high-crowned (hypsodont) teeth with complex enamel folds (selenodont) for grinding fibrous browse.

Functional Adaptations

• Browsing: Long neck + prehensile tongue + lower incisor "comb" strips acacia leaves (avoiding thorns).
• Mastication: Lateral jaw motion; hypsodonty counters silica phytolith wear.
• No upper front teeth: Dental pad + lower incisors = efficient cropping.

Development

• Deciduous teeth: 20 (no upper incisors).
• Permanent eruption: ~1–5 years; M3 erupts ~4–5 yrs.
• Age estimation: Cementum annuli in M1/M2.

Comparison

Unlike cattle (32 teeth but upper incisors present), giraffes lost upper incisors entirely – a unique ruminant adaptation for high browsing.