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please assist in completing. thank you!! Station 15: More Mammals Different type

ID: 205449 • Letter: P

Question

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Station 15: More Mammals Different types of teeth that have different functions. Reptiles have homodont dentition - all the teeth look and function alike. Mammals have heterodont chewing. Mammal teeth are adapted for the particular diet of each species. Very broadly, insectivores show little specialization of teeth. Herbivores have front teeth for grazing and large grinding molars to crush plant cell walls. Fish- eaters have many peg-like teeth for capturing and holding slippery fish. Carnivores have pointed canine teeth for capturing prey and sharp teeth for shredding meat (carnassials). als have heterodont dentition - different teeth are specialized for cutting or biting, shearing, grinding, or a) Observe the different mammals shown. For three specimens, write your observations of their teeth and identify their most likely diet based their dentition Mamma Observations on dentition Most lIkely diet

Explanation / Answer

1. Herbivores - Herbivores have teeth that are highly specialized for eating plants. Because plant matter is often difficult to break down, the molars of herbivores are wider and flatter, designed to grind food, and aid in digestion. Herbivore incisors are sharp for tearing plants, but they may not be present on both the upper and lower jaw. White tail deer are a perfect example of an herbivore that has only lower incisors and a rigid upper jaw that assists in the tearing of plants. Many animals, such as horses and cows, have jaws that are capable of moving sideways. Elephants are herbivores, and their incisors are unlike those found in other animals. Odd as it may sound, a tusk is actually a tooth, an incisor, that has evolved into a different type of tool, often used for defense.

Most likely diet- Herbivores are at the second level of the food chain and mainly eat plants. Herbivores are considered primary consumers and are the first consumers on the food chain. Herbivores don’t always eat the same things. Herbivores like squirrels eat grass and small plants near the ground and are called grazers. Herbivores that eat leaves, shoots, and twigs are called browsers. Very large animals like elephants, rhinos, and moose are grazers and browsers.

2. Carnivorous - Carnivores have a set of teeth that are very different from herbivores'. This makes sense, because they also have a different diet. A carnivore will use its teeth to kill a prey item before eating it. The sharp incisors and pointed canine teeth are perfectly designed for both incapacitating and eating a meal. A canine tooth can be easily identified, as it is the longer, pointed tooth located on either side of the incisors. The molars are fewer in number than other animals may have, mainly because so much of the work is done by the teeth in the front of the mouth. While the presence of canine teeth does not guarantee that an animal is a carnivore, it is an indicator that meat is some part of the diet.

Most likely diet - Meat

3. Omnivorous - Humans are omnivores, meaning we eat a variety of foods, including meat and plant matter. A quick glance at your own teeth will give you a sense of the variety of shapes and sizes of teeth an omnivore can have. Human teeth are not indicative of exactly what you will see in the mouth of all omnivores. Each omnivore will have teeth that are specifically adapted to the diet these animals consume. Animals with teeth like humans that use their molars for grinding and their incisors and canines for ripping or tearing are said to have heterodont dentition. Each tooth is designed for a specific role in processing the food eaten. Homodont dentition, found in most omnivorous reptiles, occurs when the teeth are all relatively the same size and shape. These teeth are used more for the acquisition of food than for the processing of that food.

Most likely diet - All the delicious food include vegetables and Meat.