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Tusks are elongated, continuously growing teeth that protrude from the mouths of mammoths, which are a type of proboscidean mammal. These robust, conical structures serve various purposes essential to mammoth survival and behavior. Tusks are primarily used for digging up food, such as roots and shrubs, as well as for breaking through ice and snow during colder months. They also play a significant role in intraspecific combat between males, helping establish dominance and reproductive access. Additionally, tusks serve as sensory organs, with nerve endings running along their length, allowing mammoths to detect subtle changes in their environment. Tusks are an iconic feature of mammoths, symbolizing their power and adaptability within the proboscidean family tree.