ANIMAL

ADAPTATIO

NS

Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog: MRS F. Beukes

Adaptations of birds with regard to feedingHerbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food

Seeds Small mammalsSmall animals, fruit and seeds

BeakShort and stout.Facilitates picking up seeds.

Big, strong and hooked beak.

Long, almost straight with curved upper tip

Mouth partsLonger and curved maxilla – picking up seeds

Sharp edges of jaw and sharp hook of maxilla to cut and tear

Strong jaws with curved tip of maxilla

ClawsToes with claws –stand and walk on ground

Claws assist capturing, gripping and carrying prey

Used for catching, carrying and killing prey

Mandibles

are ALWAYS

used for

biting and

chewing.

Adaptations of MAMMALS with regard to

feedingFour types of teeth:

(1) Incisors (2)-front of mouth-sharp cutting edges-biting and cutting

(2) Canines (1)-either side of incisors-pointed-grabbing hold of food-tearing and cutting

(3) Premolars (2)-behind canines-broad, uneven knobs-crushing, chewing and grinding

(4) Molars (3)-back of jaws-large, broad, uneven knobs-crushing, chewing and grinding

Adaptations of MAMMALS with regard to

feeding

Dentition:

• Incisors – 2• Canine – 1• Premolars – 2• Molars – 3

• Therefore, man’s dentition can be described by the formula:

2.1.2.3 (½ upper jaw)2.1.2.3 (½ lower jaw)

Adaptations of MAMMALs with regard to

feedingHerbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food Grass leaves FleshPlant matter and small animals

IncisorsSharp and chisel-shaped for cutting

Small, sharp and pointedLarge, strong and coneshaped. Tear off meat

CaninesSmall canines in lower jawonly.Chisel shaped edges.

Large, sharp and pointed for holding impaling and tearing off prey.

Large, strong and coneshaped. Tear off meat

Premolars and molars

Broad and flat with transverse edges – grinding and chewingCarnassials absent.

Sharp pointed knobs for cutting and breaking of bonesLast upper premolars and first lower molars from large carnassials.

Broad, pointed and knobblyfor grinding, chewing and pulverizingCarnassials absent

Jaw actionExtended side-to-side and up-and-down chewing action.

Short up and down scissor-like movement.Absence of side-to-side movement

Relatively short up-and-down chewing movements.

Claws NoneSharp claws for catching and killing of prey

Sharp claws for digging up roots for plants.

Dental formula

of a rodent:2.0.3.31.0.2.3

Dental formula of a dog:3.1.4.23.1.4.3

Dental formula

of a baboon:2.1.2.32.1.2.3

Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding

Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food Leaves Small insectsLiquid food. Dead decaying plant and animal matter.

Type of mouthparts

Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking

Mouth parts

Labrum

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Mandibles and maxillae are absent.

Mandibles

Sharp, serrated cutting surfaces. Grate of small pieces of food for grinding/chewing. Forelegs are long, muscular

and pincer-like with spines. Used for catching and holding prey, while mandibles and maxillae tear off pieces and chew.

Labium and labrum are modified to form a proboscis – used to suck up liquids.

MaxillaeTaste food, secures it and pushes it into the mouth.

Labium

Selects, tastes and handles food.Prevents food from falling out of mouth.

Saliva used to convert solid food into liquid.

Mantis religiosa

Muscadomestica

OrthopteraLocusta

LABRUM

RIGHT MANDIBLE

LEFT MANDIBLE

HYPOPHARYNX

RIGHT MAXILLA WITH

MAXILLARY PULP

Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding

Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food Leaves Small insectsLiquid food. Dead decaying plant and animal matter.

Type of mouthparts

Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking

Mouth parts

Labrum

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Mandibles and maxillae are absent.

Mandibles

Sharp, serrated cutting surfaces. Grate of small pieces of food for grinding/chewing. Forelegs are long, muscular

and pincer-like with spines. Used for catching and holding prey, while mandibles and maxillae tear off pieces and chew.

Labium and labrum are modified to form a proboscis – used to suck up liquids.

MaxillaeTaste food, secures it and pushes it into the mouth.

Labium

Selects, tastes and handles food.Prevents food from falling out of mouth.

Saliva used to convert solid food into liquid.

Mantis religiosa

Muscadomestica

OrthopteraLocusta

Carnivore

Example

Type of food Small insects

Type of mouth parts Biting and chewing

MOUTH PARTS

Labrum

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Mandibles

Forelegs are long, muscular and pincer-like with spines. Used for catching and holding prey, while mandibles and maxillae tear off pieces and chew.

Maxillae

Labium

Mantis religiosa

Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding

Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food Leaves Small insectsLiquid food. Dead decaying plant and animal matter.

Type of mouthparts

Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking

Mouth parts

Labrum

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Mandibles and maxillae are absent.

Mandibles

Sharp, serrated cutting surfaces. Grate of small pieces of food for grinding/chewing. Forelegs are long, muscular

and pincer-like with spines. Used for catching and holding prey, while mandibles and maxillae tear off pieces and chew.

Labium and labrum are modified to form a proboscis – used to suck up liquids.

MaxillaeTaste food, secures it and pushes it into the mouth.

Labium

Selects, tastes and handles food.Prevents food from falling out of mouth.

Saliva used to convert solid food into liquid.

Mantis religiosa

Muscadomestica

OrthopteraLocusta

Omnivore

Example

Type of foodLiquid food. Dead decaying plant and animal matter.

Type of mouthparts

Licking and sucking

Mouth parts

Mandibles

Mandibles and maxillae are absent.

Maxillae

LabrumSaliva used to convert solid food into liquid.

Labium and labrum are modified to form a proboscis –used to suck up liquids.Labium

Muscadomestica

Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding

Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore

Example

Type of food Leaves Small insectsLiquid food. Dead decaying plant and animal matter.

Type of mouthparts

Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking

Mouth parts

Labrum

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Covers and protects mouthparts.Prevent food from falling out of mouth.

Mandibles and maxillae are absent.

Mandibles

Sharp, serrated cutting surfaces. Grate of small pieces of food for grinding/chewing. Forelegs are long, muscular

and pincer-like with spines. Used for catching and holding prey, while mandibles and maxillae tear off pieces and chew.

Labium and labrum are modified to form a proboscis – used to suck up liquids.

MaxillaeTaste food, secures it and pushes it into the mouth.

Labium

Selects, tastes and handles food.Prevents food from falling out of mouth.

Saliva used to convert solid food into liquid.

Mantis religiosa

Muscadomestica

OrthopteraLocusta