Teeth I: The Carnivores

Most mammalian predators have conical canines with premolar and molar teeth that resemble small mountain ranges. One large triangular shape in the center with smaller, less distinct triangles along its sides. These modified teeth are often called "carnassials," from the Latin word carnis for "flesh." This shape allows predatory mammals to tear off pieces of meat, while doing some chewing. Have you ever watched your pet dog or cat eat dry kibble? They pick up the food with their front teeth, then transfer it back in their cheek to the molars, which they use to crunch down on that hard kibble. An animal in the wild would use its incisors and canines to grab the prey item, and its molars to crunch up the bones of its prey.

As you see, examining an animal's teeth can tell us a lot about how it lived, what kind of food it ate, how it captured its food, and how it ate.

Next week I will look at the varieties of herbivore teeth.

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