Skull Study Flash Cards

Which skull is this?

• Red Fox

• Gray Wolf

• Domestic Cat

• European Badger

Molars

• Located in front of the canines and used for tearing food.

• Located behind the pre-molars and used for crushing both animals and plants.

• Located at the front of the mouth and used for grinding.

• Located between the incisors and used for cutting.

Pre-molars

• Located behind the canines and are sharp for grasping or tearing meat.

• Located in front of the molars and are flat for grinding plant food.

• Located behind the incisors and are used for chewing only plants.

• Located next to the wisdom teeth and are primarily for tearing meat.

Omnivores

• usually feed on both plants and animals

• primarily consume only plants

• are exclusively carnivorous

• have a diet consisting of only fruits

Canines

• Usually smaller than incisors and located in the back of the mouth.

• Usually larger than incisors and located to the sides of the incisors. They are often long, curved and sharp conical teeth used for piercing.

• Flat and broad teeth used for grinding food.

• Short and stubby teeth used for tearing meat.

Prey Species Location of Eye Sockets

• have eye sockets on the sides of their head

• have eye sockets on the front of their head

• have no eye sockets

• have eye sockets on the top of their head

Carnivore Teeth

• have flat surfaces that grind food

• have sharp edges that help them to tear at their food

• are designed for sucking liquids

• are used primarily for chewing plants

Which skull is this?

• Gray Squirrel

• Red Fox

• White-tailed Deer

• Eastern Chipmunk

Which skull is this?

• White-tailed Deer

• Moose

• Elk

• Caribou

Herbivore Teeth

• usually sharp and pointed for tearing flesh

• usually flat or beveled so they can pull and grind the plants that they eat

• usually small and round for easy swallowing

• usually jagged for cutting through tough materials