Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Don't you find it odd that only dogs and humans have canine teeth?

Actually, cats, monkeys, great apes, bears, wolverines, etc., etc., etc. also have canine teeth. Even though canine can refer to dogs, that isn't the case with canine teeth. These are web definitions of canine from Princeton.


1. of or relating to a pointed conical tooth





2. one of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars

Don't you find it odd that only dogs and humans have canine teeth?
no. in other animals they are fangs or not needed because the foods they eat
Reply:Maybe that's where the term SOB came from. :-)





Imran
Reply:Yeah!





I never noticed, but since you asked, it is interisting!
Reply:actually, other animals DO have canine teeth. Monkeys, cats... pretty much any predator.
Reply:"Truthfully there is not much to be said about canine teeth. The adaptations required to develop a couple of long, sharp, recurved teeth towards the front of the jaw are simple enough. They have occurred countless times from fish to felines."





and it's not just those animals either: "Rodents don't have canines at all. The tusks of the wart hog, barbirussa, and the extinct sabre tooth cat are canines of dramatically increased size. The most typical offensive specialization in mammalian teeth is represented by the canines."





"Canines are positioned behind the incisors. One canine is present on each side of the upper and lower jaws. These teeth are long and conical and are used by carnivorous mammals to stab prey, or may be used in self defense. The dog family earned its common name because of its well developed canine teeth. Many omnivorous and herbivorous mammals have small canines or have lost them through evolutionary tooth reduction. Humans, as an omnivorous species, have canines that barely protrude above the level of the incisors."
Reply:yes



family nanny

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