Chapter 11: Problem 2

Give 2 facts about how the teeth of cats and dogs are adapted for a carnivorous diet: \(1 .\) 2

Short Answer

Expert verified

Both cats and dogs have long, pointed canines suitable for holding, tearing, and killing prey, and their molars, known as the 'carnassial pair', are able to shear meat into smaller parts.

Step by step solution

Fact 1 about cats and dogs teeth

The canines in both cats and dogs are long and pointed. They are designed for holding, tearing, and killing prey. Carnivores need these kind of teeth to penetrate deeply to ensure a quick, fatal hit to their prey.

Fact 2 about cats and dogs teeth

Cats and dogs have a reduced number of molars in comparison to herbivores. Their molars are designed not for grinding plant matter but for shearing meat. This is often referred to as the 'carnassial pair' which is the upper premolar and lower first molar in dogs, and the upper third premolar and lower first molar in cats. These teeth work together like scissors cutting meat into smaller parts that can be easily swallowed.

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Give 2 facts about how the teeth of cats and dogs are adapted for a carnivorous diet: \(1 .\) 2

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Fact 1 about cats and dogs teeth

Fact 2 about cats and dogs teeth

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