Ferocious Vertebrates Rely on Their Teeth, Jaws, and Beaks to Survive


Many vertebrates use their teeth, jaws, or breaks to capture and eat their prey. The type of tooth, beak, or jaw depends on where the vertebrae lives and what exactly it eats.

For example, the now extinct sabertooth cat had amazing teeth. Two big and long teeth located in the front of its mouth helped the cat stab its prey in its soft parts, like the abdomen. The sabertooth cat’s teeth were twice as long as those of a lion, which were built to strangle prey. If a sabertooth cat tried to use its teeth in the same manner that lions do, their teeth would break.

Mergansers are a type of duck with long, thin beaks that have jagged edges. Some people call these ducks “sawbills” for this reason. Mergansers use their jagged beaks to capture fish and swallow them whole instead of masticating, or chewing them.

Marine animals also use their teeth to catch a variety of prey. For example, a shark uses its sharp teeth and powerful jaw to rip big chunks of meat from its prey. The barracuda, on the other hand, uses its dagger-like teeth to catch and rip pieces of meat off of its prey.

Clearly, vertebrates have unique features that help them to eat and survive, all based on where they live and what they eat.

[Source: Dangerous Animals ]

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