They erupt in males between 2 to 3 years of age, and in females at 4 to 5 years. What about male's fighting teeth? Many veterinarians recommend removing the fighting teeth from males, because they can and do cause serious injuries to other males. Alpaca and Llama teeth are very similar. The fighting teeth are modified canine teeth and can be up to an inch long. They can pose significant risk to humans, and it’s recommended that they be removed to prevent injury. Many guard llamas can learn to work with livestock guardian dogs and to tolerate household pets as long as the pets do not threaten the llama's charges. It’s not only other llamas that have to be wary of the fighting teeth. For safety reasons, the fighting teeth should be removed or filed off in the male. Males use their fighting teeth to compete for females and fight off predators. It is different to other ruminants in having two front teeth in the upper jaw. Camels can be aged up to 7 years while llamas and alpacas can be aged up to 5 years. The fighting teeth are used to tear into opponents; after a battle, the llamas might exhibit torn ears or gashes along their flanks. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the conversation right now! It’s hard to believe that such an innocent looking herbivore could engage in such a brutal act, but it’s true. These are modified canine and incisor teeth. The fighting teeth are very large and pointed in the adult male llama. They can pose significant risk to humans, and it’s recommended that they be removed to prevent injury. The camel has 22 milk teeth and 32 permanent teeth. Some llamas however do have front lower incisors that protrude ahead of the dental plate rather than contact the plate like they are supposed to. When breeding, a single male llama is usually kept with a small herd of … At around two years of age, male llamas will develop six very sharp fighting teeth - two on the top gum and one on the bottom on each side of the mouth. Fighting teeth are removed from most llamas as soon as they come in, and most male llamas that are not used for breeding are gelded, just like stallions, making them much safer to have around. Why do llamas use fighting teeth? There are two fighting teeth on the upper arcade and one on the lower. cheek teeth generally exhibit sharp ridges and points typical of herbivores that eat tough grasses and shrubs. Old llama llore says that males are not fertile until they grow their fighting teeth, but llama owners will tell you this is not true. The fighting teeth erupt at 2 to 7 years, 2 with average being 2-1/2 years. Llama incisor teeth have enamel all round, whereas alpaca incisors have enamel only on the front. But then again, they do have a reputation for spitting, which itself is a disgusting act. These curved teeth are very sharp and angle towards the back of the mouth thus making them very adept for ripping. Llamas develop fighting teeth designed for biting off the testicles of other males! In females and castrated males, the fighting teeth do not protrude very far. They curve backwards and are razor sharp. For safety reasons, the fighting teeth should be removed or filed off in the male. An interesting aspect of llama dentition is the presence of fighting teeth or fangs. To secure the title as the only fertile male in a herd, llamas will attempt to castrate each other. Llamas are a very gentle, shy and a very curious animal. For this reason, many farmers elect to have the fighting teeth removed. They can be used as harmful weapons against other llamas or people. There are some llamas that like to chew on you, but it will not hurt you because they only have teeth on the bottom of their mouth. The fighting teeth are very large and pointed in the adult male llama. Llamas are calm in nature and have common sense, which make them easy for anyone, even children to handle. But the favored target is the testicles. Llamas are very enjoyable animals and they are fun to do things with, however, most llamas do not seek affection and they prefer not to be handled excessively. Male llamas have been known to fight to the death by biting and ripping at each other when fighting for females. Llamas have been used by many South American cultures for wool, meat, and as pack animals to carry loads up through the mountains.