2. Adaptations of birds with regard to feeding
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Mandibles
Example
are ALWAYS
used for
Type of
bitingSmall animals, fruit
and
Seeds Small mammals
food
chewing.
and seeds
Short and stout. Long, almost
Big, strong and
Beak Facilitates picking straight with curved
hooked beak.
up seeds. upper tip
Sharp edges of jaw Strong jaws with
Longer and curved
and sharp hook of curved tip of
Mouth parts maxilla – picking up
maxilla to cut and maxilla
seeds
tear
Toes with claws – Claws assist Used for catching,
Claws stand and walk on capturing, gripping carrying and killing
ground and carrying prey prey
3. Adaptations of MAMMALS with regard to
Four types of teeth: feeding
(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
4. 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)
5. Adaptations of MAMMALs with regard to
Herbivore feeding
Carnivore Omnivore
Example
Dental
formula
Plant matter and small
Type of food Grass leaves a
of Flesh
animals
rodent:
Sharp and chisel-shaped for Large, strong and
Incisors Small, sharp and pointed
cutting 2.0.3.3 coneshaped. Tear off meat
1.0.2.3
Small canines in lower jaw Large, sharp and pointed for Dental
Large, strong and
Canines only. holding impaling and tearing coneshaped. Tear off meat
Chisel shaped edges. off prey.
formula
of a
Sharp pointed knobs for
Broad and flat with transverse cutting and breaking of bones baboon:
Broad, pointed and knobbly
Premolars and
edges – grinding and chewing Dental
Last upper premolars and first
for grinding, chewing and
2.1.2.3
molars pulverizing
Carnassials absent. formula
lower molars from large
2.1.2.3
Carnassials absent
carnassials.
of a dog:
Short up and down scissor-
Extended side-to-side and up- 3.1.4.2
like movement. Relatively short up-and-down
Jaw action
and-down chewing action. Absence 3.1.4.3
of side-to-side chewing movements.
movement
Sharp claws for catching and Sharp claws for digging up
Claws None
killing of prey roots for plants.
6. Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Orthoptera Mantis Musca
Example
Locusta religiosa domestica
Liquid food. Dead decaying
Type of food Leaves Small insects
plant and animal matter.
Type of mouth
Biting and chewing Biting and chewing LEFT MANDIBLE
Licking and sucking
parts
Mouth parts
Covers and protects RIGHT MANDIBLE
Covers and protects
mouthparts. mouthparts. Mandibles and maxillae are
Labrum
Prevent food from falling out Prevent food from falling out absent.
of mouth. of mouth.
Sharp, serrated cutting HYPOPHARYNX
Labium and labrum are
surfaces. Grate of small
Mandibles modified to form a proboscis
pieces of food for RIGHT – used to suck up liquids.
grinding/chewing. Forelegs are long, muscular
andMAXILLA WITH
pincer-like with spines.
Taste food, secures it and
Maxillae
pushes it into the mouth.
MAXILLARY
Used for catching and holding
prey, while mandibles and
PULP
maxillae tear off pieces and
Selects, tastes and handles
chew.
food. Saliva used to convert solid
Labium
Prevents food from falling out food into liquid.
of mouth.
LABRUM
7. Carnivore
Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding
Herbivore CarnivoreExample Omnivore
Mantis
religiosa
Orthoptera Mantis Musca
Example
Locusta religiosa Type of food domestica
Small insects
Type of
mouth parts Biting and chewing
Liquid food. Dead decaying
MOUTH PARTS
Type of food Leaves Small insects
plant and animal matter.
Covers and protects
Type of mouth
parts
Biting and chewing Biting and chewing
Labrum
mouthparts.
Licking and sucking
Prevent food from
Mouth parts falling out of mouth.
Covers and protects Covers and protects
mouthparts. mouthparts. Mandibles and maxillae are
Labrum Mandibles
Prevent food from falling out Prevent food from falling out absent.
of mouth. of mouth.
Sharp, serrated cutting Maxillae Forelegs are long,
Labium and labrum are
muscular and pincer-
surfaces. Grate of small
Mandibles modified to form a proboscis
like with spines.
pieces of food for
Forelegs are long, muscular – used to suck up liquids.
grinding/chewing. Used for catching and
and pincer-like with spines.
Taste food, secures it and holding prey, while
Maxillae Used for catching and holding
pushes it into the mouth. prey, while mandibles and mandibles and
maxillae tear off piecesLabium
and maxillae tear off
Selects, tastes and handles
chew. pieces and chew.
food. Saliva used to convert solid
Labium
Prevents food from falling out food into liquid.
of mouth.
8. Omnivore
Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Example
Musca
domestica
Orthoptera Mantis Musca
Example
Locusta religiosa domestica
Liquid food. Dead decaying
Type of food
plant and animal matter.
Liquid food. Dead decaying
Type of food Leaves Small insects
plant and animal matter.
Type of mouth
Licking and sucking
Type of mouth parts
Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking
parts
Mouth parts
Mouth parts
Covers and protects Covers and protects
mouthparts. mouthparts.
Mandibles Mandibles and maxillae are
Labrum
Prevent food from falling out Prevent food from falling out absent.
of mouth. of mouth. Mandibles and maxillae are
absent.
Sharp, serrated cutting
Labium and labrum are
surfaces. Grate of small Maxillae
Mandibles modified to form a proboscis
pieces of food for
Forelegs are long, muscular – used to suck up liquids.
grinding/chewing.
and pincer-like with spines.
Taste food, secures it and Used for catching and holding Saliva used to convert solid
Maxillae
pushes it into the mouth. prey, whileLabrum
mandibles and food into liquid.
maxillae tear off pieces and
Selects, tastes and handles
chew. Labium and labrum are
food. Saliva used to convert solid
Labium modified to form a proboscis –
Prevents food from falling out food into liquid.
Labium used to suck up liquids.
of mouth.
9. Adaptations of INSECTs with regard to feeding
Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Orthoptera Mantis Musca
Example
Locusta religiosa domestica
Liquid food. Dead decaying
Type of food Leaves Small insects
plant and animal matter.
Type of mouth
Biting and chewing Biting and chewing Licking and sucking
parts
Mouth parts
Covers and protects Covers and protects
mouthparts. mouthparts. Mandibles and maxillae are
Labrum
Prevent food from falling out Prevent food from falling out absent.
of mouth. of mouth.
Sharp, serrated cutting
Labium and labrum are
surfaces. Grate of small
Mandibles modified to form a proboscis
pieces of food for
Forelegs are long, muscular – used to suck up liquids.
grinding/chewing.
and pincer-like with spines.
Taste food, secures it and Used for catching and holding
Maxillae
pushes it into the mouth. prey, while mandibles and
maxillae tear off pieces and
Selects, tastes and handles
chew.
food. Saliva used to convert solid
Labium
Prevents food from falling out food into liquid.
of mouth.
