Ever wonder which animal has the most teeth? Could it be a lion? A shark? The horrifying info-commercial spokesperson who shows up on your TV at midnight?

We humans tend to take our teeth for granted. Sure, we need them to chew, but let’s face it—our 32 teeth aren’t exactly impressive. In the animal kingdom, some creatures carry enough teeth to make you feel more than a little inadequate. Today, we’ll introduce you to some of the world’s most toothsome animals. From the “modestly toothy” to “how-does-it-even-have-room-for-that-many-teeth” categories, get ready to dive into a world of gnashers that will make you appreciate your simple set of pearly whites.

#6 — Giant Armadillo: The Tooth Champion of the Mammal World (70–100 Teeth)

We’re kicking off our list with the mighty giant armadillo. As far as mammals go, this South American native holds the record for the most teeth—around 70 to 100 of them! While that’s nowhere near the numbers we’ll get to soon, it’s still pretty impressive for a land-dwelling mammal.

These armadillos are “homodonts,” meaning their teeth are all the same shape. They’re not built for variety but rather for chomping down on termites and ants. While our teeth are busy navigating between a varied diet of pizza and kale (okay, mostly pizza), the armadillo’s uniform pegs are perfect for a diet of crunchy insects. Since they keep growing throughout its life, this armadillo never needs to worry about visiting the dentist—its teeth just take care of themselves.

By the way, they also always give birth to identical quadruplets, thus guaranteeing the next generation’s claim for the toothiest mammal.

#5 — Lamprey: Nature’s Vampiric Grab-and-Suck Machine (100 Teeth)

For our next animal, we leave the comfort of terra firma and head underwater for something a little more frightening. Meet the lamprey, an eel-like fish with a face is nothing short of terrifying. Lampreys aren’t picky eaters—anything with blood will do. Perfectly suited for this task, the lamprey has a circular mouth with about 100 sharp, pointy teeth.

Adult lampreys use this ring of teeth to latch onto unsuspecting fish, like nature’s very own underwater vampire. Once attached, they’ve got a piston-like tongue with more sharp structures for gouging at the host’s flesh, all while the outer teeth keep the lamprey firmly in place. No escape for the poor prey, just a one-way ticket to the Blood Donation Center. All in all, it’s a bit of a horror show, but hey, with 100 teeth, the lamprey smiles all the way into your nightmares.

#4 — Frilled Shark: 300 Teeth of Abyssal Nightmare Fuel

Continuing our journey into the deep, dark ocean, we find the frilled shark—another animal that looks like it belongs in a horror film. With a serpentine body, murky eyes, and frilly gills, it’s already nightmare material. But then there’s the teeth: about 300 of them, arranged in rows that run down its lower and upper jaws.

The frilled shark’s trident-shaped teeth are perfect for snagging squid and fish in the pitch-black waters of the ocean floor. Rows of needle-sharp teeth aren’t just for show; they’re designed to latch onto prey and make sure it doesn’t escape. Some researchers think that frilled sharks might even use their teeth as bait, tricking curious squid into coming close before snapping them up. Imagine a Venus flytrap, but with more squirming.

#3 — Catfish: Sneaky Sandpaper Mouths (Up to 9,000 Teeth)

At first glance, the catfish might seem like it’s lacking in the tooth department. With that wide, gap-toothed grin, it almost looks like it’s forgotten to put its dentures in. Get closer, and you’ll see thousands of tiny, sandpaper-like teeth, arranged in neat rows called “cardiform teeth.”

Catfish teeth aren’t the sharp, terrifying kind. Instead, they feel a bit like the rough side of Velcro. Some species can have up to 9,000 of these little sandpapery nibblers. Perfect for scraping up plant matter and small critters on the riverbed, these teeth may not be about tearing or chewing, but they get the job done. Not exactly ferocious, but the catfish seems happy enough with its setup.

#2 — Garden Snail: The Tiny Powerhouse of Teeth (14,000+ Teeth)

Stepping back onto dry land, we find one of nature’s most unassuming dental dynamos: the garden snail. Yes, that humble little snail in your backyard is packing thousands of teeth. How many, you ask? Would you believe about 14,000?

Like the slug, the garden snail has a radula—a kind of conveyor belt of microscopic teeth, called “denticles.” These aren’t teeth like ours; they’re tough, pointy structures made of chitin, the same stuff as insect exoskeletons. Their purpose? To scrape up plants, leaves, and even garden debris, turning them into mushy snail food. It’s a good thing these creatures are tiny, because a bear-sized snail with 14,000 teeth sounds like the setup for a horror movie.

#1 — Umbrella Slug: The Toothiest of Them All (750,000 Teeth)

Topping our list is an unassuming marine gastropod with a jaw-dropping number of teeth. The umbrella slug may not look like much, but it boasts an estimated 750,000 teeth over its lifetime. That’s enough to keep a whole team of dental hygienists employed for a decade!

These teeth, arranged in rows on the radula, work tirelessly to scrape algae, sponges, and other organic goodies off the ocean floor. And they don’t last forever; just like on an assembly line, worn-out teeth fall off and new ones take their place. Imagine a never-ending tooth conveyor belt, pushing fresh replacements forward as needed. And yes, somewhere out there, a scientist counted them.

Which Animal Has the Most Teeth? Smile At the Answer

There you have it—a parade of animals that make our mouths look positively boring. From ocean-dwelling terror machines to backyard surprises, it turns out there’s a whole world of creative dental solutions out there. The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to appreciate the simplicity of human chompers. Because, let’s be real, 750,000 teeth would be an absolute nightmare to floss.

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