Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Right-Handed Warthog. As I was perusing my recently acquired African Warthog skull-- Sustainably harvested from South Africa, An old male with fairly worn tusks-- I noticed something noteworthy with both upper and lower tusks: The normally long, sharp right tusks were both rounded, Shorter, and somewhat dulled. There was a clear differentiation between left and right. I thought for a moment and realized that pigs root, Especially with large tusks. The animal had literally worn down the enlarged right teeth, Rooting and searching for food over years of a lifetime! Dentition of mammals is a utilized taxonomic character And they evolved to function in each group, Enhancing their specialities. Consider our teeth, an omnivorous species, And very similar to--wait--those of bears and pigs! Have fun thinking! Frank Maurer 20 January 2024 1540 Hours.