If you found a vertebrate skull in the woods and the teeth were sharp and scissor-like, what type of food would you expect this animal to eat?

A) grass

B) flesh of another animal

C) nectar

D) blood

The correct answer is: B) flesh of another animal

The shape of teeth is tightly connected with the food that animal eats. Examples:

• Herbivores (plant eaters) have flat teeth specialized for the grass chewing.

• Carnivores (flesh eaters) have long and sharp teeth for meat cutting.

• Omnivores (eat meat and plants) such as humans have various types of teeth with different functions.

There are four main types of teeth: incisors (at the front, sharp for cutting), canines (to grip and tear food), premolars (flat surface for food crushing), molars (the biggest with flat biting surface, to chew).