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Alright, I'm not sure if this topic has alreayd been debated or brought up. this really isn't a debat I just thought I would put out some thoughts and see how people responded. Hee hee *rubs hands evilly together* yes my little test subjects...yeeeeessssss.
Ahem,
If you take a look at the Vampire Bat you will notice one big thing about how it feeds. It bites into the animal of its choice with its, "two very sharp incisor teeth".
A vampire bat does NOT use it's canine teeth. Because that is impratical since canine teeth are really used for grabbing onto meat and holding or ripping. A vampire bat only needs to nibble.
So then the question springs up, why do the stories of Human Vampires have the creatures growing long canine teeth?
One theory is that the stories were created to spawn fear. Humans are essentially primates. Apes have longer canine teeth that they use to feed as well as to fight and intimidate. So perhaps Vampires were given such teeth to inspire fear and intimidation as well.
This also backs my question on how illogical it is that when the vampires bite in stories and movies only two little puncture wounds are left. Since canine teeth are designed for ripping and shredding, it made sense to me that the wholes would in fact be gaping wounds.
however, if the incisor teeth were used, small holes would be the aftermath. Of course there isn't really anything frightening about a vampire with buck teeth...

I think you have a really good point, and I believe that there is a lot of ideas from myths that have changed things over time. The image of the 'fangs' would create fear in anyone, and this image is now totally minstilled as the image of a vampire, buthow are we to know how things have changed since before records where kept to stop all this information merging?

Everyone sees Frankenstein as the green monster with the bolts; but the monster never had a name, and never had those bolts, Frankenstein was simply the name of his creator. Even fiction can be subject tochange when it is given to the power of legend and hearsay.

Which makes you wonder- And I do NOT want any religious debates here, it's just a thought- Could the bible and such be exactly the same as our stories? People not understanding certain things and assuming blah blah blah? heh I don't know but you're right, there are a lot of things out there that get screwed up. People don't read slow enough ;)

Well, great point u did!
But Im sure that vampire bats needs threir "fangs"...They feed by biting the animal and then licking or sucking the blood out of the wound.

good point, the thing i wonder bout is our whole history, wondering whats true and whats not.

like all things that humans dont understand, they fear them so it makes sense that they make others fear the same things by what they write.

good point, i definetly agree with you

Canine teeth in living humans are indeed intended to rip apart meats and other various organisms, yes.
But think of it this way.

How many Vampires have been reported of eating solid meats?

O_o

Vampires really have no need of the traditional "ripping teeth" after having turned.
Now... I really can only speculate as to why the canines are the ones to be pointed out... only thing I can think of is that they are already pointed..... and at an appropriate position in the mouth to be able to speak ( if needed ) while they are lenghtened.

Immagine your two front teeth being that long.
You know how often you'd bite your lips?
MEH.

it is a good point, that these things are created to spread fear. i think it's weird but that's the best i've got.

I think that over the years stories change. They change to make things scarier and make people believe more things.

I also agree with you on the bible thing. I shall just agree seeing as others will turn it into a lets whip out the church debate. ::smiles:::

I also agree with Khay. Could you imagine how you would tear your lips up with teeth right in front. Its like the question.. why are thing on us the war they are? Its probably just some off the wall reason. Or it was some sick bastards idea to make people keep asking Why? lol

I think it was a fear factor in the beginning. In all practicality I can see the long canines to hold onto the prey while the lower insisors did the puncture to allow feeding. Look at the original Nosferatu, not very practical location for fangs, but was intimidating.

Just a slight touch on Echo's message, in all fairness the Frankenstein monster was not suppose to be green either, everyone just assumed. Since he was made out of dead bodies his skin was pale with a touch of grey. Was also metioned by Jack Pierce who did the make-up for Boris Karloff, said he used a pale grey make-up.

Khayman,
I'm not sure if you're missing the entire point of this thread. That's exactly why I think the canine teeth are not logical. because vampires Don't eat the meat.

Correct me if Im wrong....

Vampire we're at one time or other Human.
Canines are sharp teeth anyway... plus it's easier to hide the abnormal muscle structure needed to extend them at feeding/battle.

Of course, but the canine teeth extend usually as I've seen through the stories after they have been made vampires. what's to say the Incisor teeth couldn't do the same? Even still, if the canine teeth only grew out longer and that was the main tool used for feeding, it would still be damn easy to see them. in some stories I've read the teeth retract until they are ready to feed in which case, having sharp incisor teeth would be very easily done.

I think who ever made human vampire storys tried to think of a way to make the stories romantic...and filled with sex and power so we can be facinated with the idea that we might one day be vampires

could be...

Besides Max Schrek...

Show me a Vampire with teeth other than Canines.
:-D
Forgive me if im feisty... but my coffee is kickin in and I make it so strong one could WALK ON IT.
O_o

That could most likely be true.

Ugh I can't argue with this it's sort of missing the point entirely. My point is that there ARE NO vampires with teeth like that. *sigh*

Like who's? Max Schrek? All out in front?
Or the Canines?

Im not trying to be contrary with that, honey... just trying to clarify. :(

literature and the media always tends to grab onto anything..... and then run with it.
lets face it, the look of long canines is aethetically pleasing, and infinately more practical than other options.

As a sanguine myself however, i prefer the scalpel as my impliment of choice. Minimal scaring from a good cut (unless you want it to) with a willing donor.
And many options for amounts of blood, and target sites, all with a minimum of pain--since not all people like pain.....


R

well look deeper people.....traditionally the classic "vampire" did not actually drink blood.....but life essence....they were more akin to a ghost.....absorbing the essemce...but as the stories grew....so did the twists added to it....it then merged with other supernatural stories....sauch as the werewolf.....long canine teeth....fangs scare the human subcontious.....I think it would have more to to with a fear of the big sharp teeth than any actuality......
all the better to eat you with my dear......
take that comment for all it's worth

I personally do use my canine teeth but only one and i break the skin in a sizzoring motion leaving only a small cut to feed from much the same result as a bat makes

since i do not feed in great quantity this is perfect for me

I had thought, as a child, that a vampire drank your blood through their teeth. Like a straw.

Apparently the rest of the world never shared this view. Well... at least not those in Hollywood!

To build on what Khayman said:

Vampire dentition really varies very little from the basic human set - the canine tooth, designed for tearing, is replaced by a fang, for puncturing and injecting. Like certain reptiles, vampire fangs are fully retractible, and have a hypodermic function which is under the vampire's conscious control. Various substances may be injected.

In order to consume the high proportion of the victim's blood that leads to 'bloodless' corpses, there must be a powerful anticoagulant, to enable the vampire to suck the blood quickly, cleanly, and without it clotting. (Agree'd)

There is much confusion about vampire fangs; many believe the blood is extracted via the fangs; this is almost certainly a misunderstanding. The amount of blood, even anticoagulated blood, that could be taken in this way is simply insufficient;(unless you are a vampire bat) it is almost certain that the fangs are used to pierce and inject; The blood is literally sucked out of the wounds and swallowed/drank. (you get me?)

It is likely, but not confirmed, that a relaxant, probably related to suxamethonium, is employed to reduce the victim's struggles and prevent them calling for help. This fast-acting agent could be sufficient to ensure a quick and painles death,when used in combination with catastophic blood loss.

It has been suggested that an array of enzymes can be employed; for example, clotting agents to reverse the anticoagulant, for those selected not to die. It is conceivable that neurotoxins are employed, to ensure death even if the vampire is disturbed.

And if you still don't know.... God help you!

Ð

Yes I see what you mean that makes sense. I'm just basically pointing out differences since I know plenty of people who say vampires can exist because vampire bats exist. I still believe that hollywood has made a squeaky beautiful clean verson of vampires. Vampire bats have to swallow somewhere around 5 times their weight in blood to survive. I think they have to feed every couple days or risk dying.
I wonder if we'd just have fat vampires, or ones with lots and lots of energy hehe.

my bets are on the tubby suckerheads.....
hehe
(bites Morrigon)

Right on, Dhampir... and might I add what a LOVELY little angel you have ALL to yourself over there... /:) I vote you share...

Daermon: YOU NUT!!
lol

Just adding my 2 cents on a difference in vampire teeth/fangs. Think of an older movie with Lon Chaney Sr. called "London After Midnight" an old B&W no sound film where Chaney played a vampire. All of his teeth both upper and lower were sharp and pointed.

If my memory serves me correctly the vampire "fangs" were created in Hollywood for the Dracula movie. Striking a balance between the fright factor of the canine fangs, and the romanticism they portrayed was born what is known today as vampire "fangs".

so my opinions ,so much to learn great job everyone iam learning more and more

What was Braum Stokers description of his vampire, there is where one should look, being the First "POP CULTURE" vampire.

i agree with Wyynd

*pictures bloodsheen acting like a bat on her neck (shivers)*