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11. The Mind-Blowing Ability of Capybaras to Regrow Teeth
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The amazing capacity of capybaras to constantly renew their teeth over their lifetime has amazed even biologists. Though unusual in mammals, this phenomena—hypselodonty—is vital for the survival of capybaras. Their teeth—especially their cheek teeth and incisors—grow constantly to offset the wear from their abrasive diet of rough grasses and aquatic plants. The rate of growth—capybara teeth can grow up to 6 inches annually—makes this even more amazing! This fast development guarantees that their teeth stay sharp and efficient for crushing hardy plant material. Constant development also implies that, as they mature, capybaras avoid dental issues typical of other animals. Capybaras' evolutionary success can be mostly attributed to their unusual adaption, which enables them to utilise food sources that would rapidly exhaust the teeth of other animals. Still under active study in biology and dental science, the process behind this ongoing tooth development is yet unknown.
