Animal Nutrition
Four main types of teeth
Types of teeth Structure Function
Incisor chisel - shaped Bites and cuts food
Canines pointed Catches, holds, tears and/or kills prey
Premolars flat; uneven grinds and crushes food
Molars flat and uneven grinds and crushes food
Human dental formula from middle to back : 2 - 1 - 2 - 3
Types of animals and their teeth
Herbivore
Use incisors to cut plant material
usually lack canines
use molars and premolars to grind food
Omnivore
teeth modified for both plant material and meat
similar to humans
Carnivore
incisors to shred / slice meat
large well developed canines for catching, holding and tearing meat
Carnissal teeth (specialised molars and premolars)with jagged, triangular edges that are used for cutting meat