What do an animals’ teeth tell us about

its diet?

Moira Whitehouse PhD

This is a fish skull. Would this fish likely have been a herbivore or carnivore?

Why?

1.

This is a skull of a barracuda. If you had chosen carnivorous fish, you would be correct.

This is a reasonable choice because of the sharp pointed teeth that the fish would use for seizing its prey and tearing it apart.

1.

Would this be a skull of a herbivore or carnivore?

Look at the back teeth.

2.

This is a llama skull. It is an herbivore. You can tell by the flat back molars used for grinding up tough plants.

2.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore? Why?

3.

This is a skull of a gila monster. Carnivore. Why, sharp pointed teeth.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is a leopard skull. You can tell it is a carnivore by its long sharp canine teeth and jagged molars used for grinding bones

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is the skull of a prairie dog. You can tell that isthe skull of a rodent that gnaws because of its long Incisors and flat molars on the back for grinding plant material. So it is a herbivore.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is a skull of a white-tailed deer—a herbivore. Notice the flat back molar teeth for grinding up tough grass and leaves.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is the skull of a black bear. Black bears are omnivores. Notice the sharp canine teeth and the flatter back molars.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is a coyote skull. Coyotes are carnivores. Notice the sharp canine teeth and the rough jagged back molars.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

This is the skull of a raccoon. Raccoons are omnivores. Notice the sharp canine teeth and the flatter back molars.

What about this one—herbivore, omnivore or carnivore? Look at those teeth. What kind of animal is this?

This is the skull of a snaked called an anaconda. Notice the backward slanting teeth that keep the victim from escaping while the snake swallows it whole. Snakes are carnivores.

This is the skull of a animal that became extinct about 15,000 years ago. Do you think it was an herbivore, carnivore or omnivore and why?

This was the skull of an extinct cave lion. It would have been a carnivore since like our present-day lions, it had long canine teeth for grabbing prey and ripping it apart and jagged molars for crushing bones.