Lesson 6 - Dentition of Herbivores and Carnivores Flashcards
What do the main 4 types of teeth do?
• Incisors - Biting and cutting
• Canines - Tearing and ripping meat
• Molars and pre-molars - Grinding and chewing food
How are herbivore teeth adapted?
Flat and ridged for grinding plant matter to increase SA for enzyme action
What does the following do:
Horny pad?
Allows animal to pinch vegetation and pinch it off with the lower incisors
Incisors?
Slice through plant material
Diastema?
Gap between cheek and front teeth. The tongue moves cut grass to the large grinding surfaces of the cheek teeth.
Molars and pre-molars
Interlocking like an M fitting into a W for grinding food.
Loose jaw articulators
The lower jaw moves from side to side and produces a circular grinding action.
How are carnivore teeth adapted?
Catching and killing prey and then to cut and crush bones and tear meat
What does the following do:
Small sharp incisors?
Grip and tear flesh from bone
Large curved canines?
Seize and hold onto prey
Pre-molars/molars?
Cutting and crushing food
Carnassials?
Slide past each other like blades to crush bones
Vertical jaw movement?
Allows wide opening of jaw and can’t be dislocated when prey is attempting escape
