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Do Whales Have Teeth?
Jun 23, 2026 5:57 AM

  

Do Whales Have Teeth?1

  False killer whale A false killer whale is a type of toothed whale. It has simple conical teeth that are used for grasping prey, not for chewing. (more) Do Whales Have Teeth? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Do-Whales-Have-Teeth Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 9, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Do Whales Have Teeth?, Yes, whales can have teeth. Specifically, toothed whales, called odontocetes, are a diverse group of cetaceans such as dolphins, porpoises, and sperm whales. Their simple conical teeth are used for grasping prey, not for chewing. Toothed whales swallow creatures such as squid or fish whole. The quantity of teeth varies greatly. Some species, such as the narwhal, possess as few as 1, while others, including the La Plata river dolphin, can have more than 240. The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales and is equipped with a lower jaw that typically contains 36 ...(100 of 213 words)

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