which mammal has the greatest number of teeth?
The mammal with the greatest number of teeth is the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), which can have up to about 100 teeth, making it the toothiest known mammal on land.
Quick Scoop: Toothiest Mammal
If you’re wondering “which mammal has the greatest number of teeth?” the crown goes to the giant armadillo of South America. Different sources give slightly different counts, but they all agree it tops other mammals:
- Giant armadillo: about 74–100 teeth, depending on the individual and how they’re counted.
- This is more than opossums (around 50 teeth) and far more than humans (32 teeth in a full adult mouth).
A fun way to picture it: imagine a human smile, then triple the number of teeth packed into a burrowing, armored animal that spends its time digging for insects.
Forum-style note
You might see online claims that the Virginia opossum has the most teeth of any land mammal, but detailed references and expert commentary point out that the giant armadillo actually exceeds it.
Mini FAQ
- Does any mammal beat the giant armadillo if we include the ocean?
Some dolphins have up to about 250 teeth, but those are not land mammals.
- Why so many teeth?
Giant armadillos are specialized insect-eaters, and their numerous peg-like teeth help grind tough prey like ants and termites.
- How many teeth do humans have, again?
A typical adult human has 32 teeth, including wisdom teeth, which makes us look pretty modest next to a giant armadillo.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.