Teeth, Skull And The Digestive System

In this project I am analysing, comparing the differences and features of three different structures of teeth, skulls and digestive systems. Once the skulls and teeth are studied, I can then further learn more information on the animal’s diet, digestive system and lifestyle. I will then be comparing three different animals with different diets, including carnivore, herbivore and omnivore to determine how their diet effects their teeth, skull and digestive system.

• Carnivore (An animal that feeds on other animals)
• Herbivore (An animal that feeds on plants)
• Omnivore (An animal that feeds on a variety of plants and animal origin)

Carnivores possess molars in the back of their mouths which are used for grinding and chewing food and sharp incisors in the front of their mouths which are used for ripping, bitting or cutting food. Carnivores also can have canine teeth for biting prey.

The digestive system of a carnivore is quite simple and short since meat is easily digested, the carnivore’s digestive system in order is oesophagus stomach large intestine small intestine anus.

Herbivores have ridged molars and jaws capable of moving sideways. Herbivores tend to grind their plant-based food, in some cases herbivores have broad molars to grind the food well so it is easier to digest since plants, leaves, twigs and shoots are hard to digest. Some herbivores have large incisors in the front of their mouths for clipping or tearing vegetation however some only have the incisors on the bottom jaw. The digestive system of an herbivore is quite complexed compared to a carnivore since plants are a lot harder to digest then meat.

Most omnivores have different types of teeth depending on what food they most typically eat unlike carnivores or herbivores that eat one specific type of food (meat, plants). Some omnivores will have teeth more like a carnivore and others will have teeth more like a herbivore however an omnivore mainly has both types with incisors and molars for chewing meat and for grinding plant based foods. Just like the teeth omnivores also have mixed digestive systems meaning they have some of the carnivore’s digestive system for digesting animal originated food and also features of the herbivores system for breaking down plant originated food.

Similarities and Differences

The omnivores and carnivores are fairly similar and herbivores are rather different.

NOTE: Carnivores do also eat plants, yet this is rare, so is not included since their diet is largely meat.

Carnivore

Tiger. Tigers are found mainly in Asia while other subspecies tend to live in other places. However, I have chosen to focus on the average Asian tiger. Depending on their subspecies they typically live in arid forests, flooded mangrove forests and tropical forests. No matter what sub specie all tigers are carnivores typically eating large prey (pigs, deer, rhino or elephant calf’s). Their lifestyle is quite lonely as they like to spend most of their time in solitude. I suspect tigers would have large sharp incisors in the front of their mouth with a pair of canine teeth for hunting and curved molars towards the back of their mouth for chewing meat. I also believe the digestive system will be the same as a human since we are also semi carnivores.

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Herbivore

Rabbit. Rabbits are found almost everywhere around the world due to their fast breeding and migrating they often live in grasslands where they can create their own home by burrowing a tunnel into the ground. Rabbits are herbivores meaning they eat plant-based food which include grasses some also tend to eat fruits, seeds, roots and buds. I think that they would have broad flat incisors and flat molars to chew up their food. I think the rabbit’s digestive system will be very small, but it will have something the tigers doesn’t for plants to be digested.

Omnivore

Brown Bear. Brown bears are commonly found in North America, Europe and Asia mainly in forests or mountains. They will eat most things they come across, for instance, their main diet consists on fish, small animals, berries, grasses and roots. I predict that the brown bear would have sharp incisors to hunt fish or a small animal and a pair of canine teeth, along with flat molars to eat fruit and grass. I think the digestive system of the brown bear will be more like a carnivore then an herbivore but will also have some features of the herbivores system.

Discussion

Tiger

Teeth and Skull: As I predicted the tiger has sharp incisors and canines at the front, which are used to bite prey. Towards the back the tigers mouth it has curved sharp molars, which are used to chew the meat. The tiger also has carnassial teeth which are used to shear and further cut the meat which is being eaten. The skull itself is quite narrow with the mouth/jaw taking up more than half the head.

Digestion system: The tiger’s digestive system is very simple and is very similar to a human, which means that meat is easily digested.

Rabbit

Teeth and Skull: The rabbit has two incisors (upper & lower) for cutting the roots of plants. Behind the top incisor is another two smaller incisors which are called peg teeth to differentiate between rabbits and rodents. In the back of the rabbit’s mouth are flat molars used for grinding plants, so they are much easier to digest. The skull is quite small, and the mouth takes up half the head.

Digestion system: The rabbit’s digestive system ixs very small, and the small intestine is very thin. The rabbit also has a caecum that is used to help digest plants.

Brown Bear

Teeth and Skull: The brown bears teeth were similar to the tigers as they both have incisors and canines used to bite prey or bite off pieces of meat. The brown bear also has semi-flat molars almost like an herbivore which would be good for fruits, nuts, grass etc.

Digestion system: The brown bear’s digestive system is more like the carnivore’s digestive system than herbivores since it has a large intestine.

In conclusion, each animals’ teeth, skull and digestive system compliments their diet, for example, the tiger has big canines and sharp incisors which are perfect for biting into their prey when hunting and have sharp curved molars and carnassial teeth for chewing the tough meat. The rabbit has 6 incisors for cutting a plant almost like scissors and flat molars for grinding the plants. If you were to have the teeth swapped the tiger would not be able to bite off meat with only incisors, and the rabbit would not be able to fully grind a plant with curved molars, showing the teeth are perfect for their diet. The animal’s digestive system also is fit for their diet, an example is the rabbit has a caecum which helps digest plants easier this is perfect for rabbits because they are herbivores and eat plants.

References

1. https://www.mainstreetsmiles.com/dental-and-skull-anatomy-of-carnivores-herbivores-and-omnivores/
2. https://learningon.theloop.school.nz/moodle/mod/page/view.php?id=48128
3. https://www.raising-rabbits.com/carnivore-digestive-system.html
4. https://www.edenpetfoods.com/nutrition/herbivores-omnivores-and-carnivores-explained.html
5. https://www.livescience.com/28162-rabbits.html
6. https://opentextbc.ca/biology/chapter/11-2-digestive-system/
7. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-anus#1
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incisor
9. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/mouth-and-teeth-anatomy/what-is-a-canine-tooth-
10. https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/carnassial-teeth
11. https://www.britannica.com/science/cecum