Generally its length and slenderness both make it rather fragile, which is supported by the fact that the tooth of the holotype was broken while the animal was still alive. The function of the tusks themselves is not entirely clear. Initially, Muizon proposed that they were merely a social instrument and not used in foraging, a hypothesis favored by later discoveries.
The fragility of this creature's length and slenderness is evident from the fact that a tooth from the holotype was broken while the animal was still alive. The function of its tusks remains unclear, but initially Muizon proposed they were merely social tools and not used for foraging, a hypothesis supported by later discoveries.