Fang - fang (English spelling)

Japanese: きば(牙) - きば（英語表記）fang

A common name for one or two pairs of vertebrate teeth that are noticeably longer than the rest, cone-shaped, and pointed at the tip. They are generally used as weapons of attack or defense. Among reptiles, the venom fangs of venomous snakes are well known. These fangs are connected to venom glands in the cheeks and act as syringes to inject venom into the body of prey or enemies. The tube fangs of pit vipers, vipers, and rattlesnakes are hollow, and the venom passes through the inside of the fang and comes out from a hole near the tip, but in the grooved fangs of cobras and sea snakes, the venom flows along grooves on the surface of the fang.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

脊椎動物の歯でほかより目だって長く，円錐形で先がとがっている1対または上下2対の歯の俗称。一般に攻撃や防御の武器として用いられる。爬虫類では毒蛇の毒牙がよく知られる。これらの毒牙はほおの毒腺につながり，毒液を獲物や敵の体内に注入する注射器として働く。マムシ，ハブ，ガラガラヘビなどの管牙は中空で，毒液はきばの中を通り，先端近くの穴から出るが，コブラ，ウミヘビなどの溝牙では毒液はきばの表面の溝を伝わって流れる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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