Fang

A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a special tooth used for biting and tearing food. In snakes, fangs connect to glands that make venom, helping them catch their food (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fangs as part of their mouthparts called chelicerae.

Fangs are most often found in meat-eating animals, like large cats. Some animals that eat both meat and plants, such as bears, also have them. These teeth help animals catch and hold their food. Some fruit-eating bats have fangs, but they mainly use them for other purposes. Humans have short canine teeth, but these are not true fangs.

Fangs in religion, mythology and legend

In many stories, creatures like dragons, gargoyles, demons, and yakshas have big, pointy teeth called fangs. Vampires are famous for their fangs.

Some religious images also show fangs. For example, the strong goddess Chamunda and the god of death Yama in Hinduism sometimes have fangs. Fangs appear on guard figures in Buddhist art from China and East Asia, and also on Rangda in Balinese Hinduism.