Mammal Teeth Structure and Function

Mammal Teeth

• Mammals have three kinds of teeth: incisors, canines, and molars.
• Incisors are flat teeth in the front of the mouth, used for biting and cutting food.
  • Humans have four incisors on top and four on the bottom.
• Canines are sharp, pointy teeth, used for killing and eating meat.
  • Humans have four canines, two on top and two on the bottom.
• Molars are teeth in the back of the mouth, used for grinding and crushing food.
  • Humans have anywhere from 0 to 20 molars, depending on age.

Herbivores

• Mammals with large incisors are herbivores, eating only plants.
• Examples: beavers, squirrels, rabbits, mice, and hamsters.

Carnivores

• Mammals with large canines are carnivores, eating only meat.
• Examples: seals, cats, dogs, bears, ferrets, raccoons, wolves, and lions.

Omnivores

• Mammals with teeth of similar size are omnivores, eating both plants and meat.
• Examples: humans.

Specialized Teeth

• Elephants have large incisors called tusks, used for tearing bark and digging up roots.
• Walruses have large canines, used for poking holes in ice to find food.
• Warthogs have curved canines, used for digging and fighting.
• Narwhals have a long, spiraling canine tooth, used for sensing the environment.
• Anteaters and pangolins have no teeth, using their sticky tongues to eat insects and small invertebrates.

Non-Mammal Teeth

• Fish, amphibians, and reptiles have teeth that are all similar in shape and size.
• Exceptions: venomous snakes have fangs, used for paralyzing prey.

Mammal Teeth

• Mammals have three types of teeth: incisors, canines, and molars.
• Incisors are flat, front teeth for biting and cutting food, with humans having four on top and four on the bottom.
• Canines are sharp, pointy teeth for killing and eating meat, with humans having four, two on top and two on the bottom.
• Molars are back teeth for grinding and crushing food, with humans having 0 to 20, depending on age.

Herbivores

• Herbivores have large incisors for eating only plants.
• Examples of herbivores include beavers, squirrels, rabbits, mice, and hamsters.

Carnivores

• Carnivores have large canines for eating only meat.
• Examples of carnivores include seals, cats, dogs, bears, ferrets, raccoons, wolves, and lions.

Omnivores

• Omnivores have teeth of similar size for eating both plants and meat.
• Humans are an example of omnivores.

Specialized Teeth

• Elephants have large incisors called tusks for tearing bark and digging up roots.
• Walruses have large canines for poking holes in ice to find food.
• Warthogs have curved canines for digging and fighting.
• Narwhals have a long, spiraling canine tooth for sensing the environment.
• Anteaters and pangolins have no teeth, using their sticky tongues to eat insects and small invertebrates.

Non-Mammal Teeth

• Fish, amphibians, and reptiles have teeth of similar shape and size.
• Exception: venomous snakes have fangs for paralyzing prey.