How would you compare the functions of the different types of mammalian teeth?
1 Answer
Mammals are heterodont animals. Morphology of teeth differs and upto four different types of teeth are present in them.
Types of teeth in mammals are:
- Incisors- for biting and cutting
- Canines- for holding and tearing
- Premolars- for crushing and
- Molars- for grinding .
In case of human, these are as follows in appearance:--
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The teeth in mammal may undergo various modifications, sometimes teeth even grow out of oral cavity, such as tusks.
In elephants these are ever growing upper incisors, but in walrus tusks are upper canines.
In herbivorous mammals, canines are often absent and a toothless gap called diastema is present on jaw bone, e.g. in rabbits.
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Then there are mammals like dolphin, who do not have such morphologically distinct teeth; and blue whales lack teeth all together.
