Carnivores
Pierce & Grasp Prey (Swallow Whole)
Commonly found in fish eaters (and insect eaters)
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Sea Lion Skull:
| Alligator Teeth:
| Dolphin Teeth:
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Crush Hard-shelled Prey
Feed on clams, snails, crabs, turtles, etc.
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Caiman Lizard Skull:
| Spottail Pinfish Jaw:
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Slice Flesh
Eat large animal prey by slicing or cutting off chunks of flesh
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Jackal skull: Note cheek teeth
| Bobcat Skull:
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Monitor Lizard Skull:
| Requiem Shark Jaw
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Herbivores & Omnivores
Shear, Crop or Pluck Plants
Use blade-like teeth to crop leaves and other plant parts that are then swallowed whole
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Iguana Lizard Teeth:
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Grinding Plant Matter
Grind up plants in mouth (chewing) before swallowing
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Deer Skull (note grinding surfaces on cheek teeth):
| Horse Skull (front incisors crop vegetation, cheek teeth grind it):
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Beaver Skull:
| Beaver Teeth Closeup:
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Omnivores
Eat a mixed diet of both plant and animal matter
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Peccary (Javelina) Skull:
| Chimpanzee Skull:
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Beaked Vertebrates
Beaks are versatile and can support a variety of diets
Turkey Skull:
| Ostrich Skull:
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| Bald Eagle Skull (replica)
| Snapping Turtle Skull (most turtles are carnivorous when young but become omnivorous when older):
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Crocodylian Skulls
Skull shape can reflect diet
American Alligator Skull:
| Nile Crocodile Skull (juvenile):
| Gharial Skull:
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