Humans have both molar teeth (for chewing) and incisors (for biting) - why?
Humans eat meat and vegetables. We are omnivores so we have grabbing teeth and chewing teeth.
A shark's teeth point backwards into the back of it's mouth. Why?
To prevent their prey from escaping.
Whales have hair-like plates of baleen in their upper jaws. Why?
They strain seawater through the baleen, and hairs on the baleen capture fish, shrimp, and plankton.
A goose has tooth-like bits on it's tongue. Why?
They help geese saw through grass and weeds.
Echidna's have long sticky tongues. Why?
They feed on ants, termites, worms, and insect larvae which they scoop up with their tongue..
Asian elephants have molars which glue together to form one large tooth. They produce six sets of molar teeth throughout their lifetime. These teeth grow in from the back of the jaw - why?
Elephants are vegetarian and their teeth wear out with grinding grass and teeth.
A cat's tongue is covered in rough spikes. Why?
For grooming.
The teeth of a beaver never stop growing. Why?
They wear them down by chewing through wood.
Butterflies have a long tongue that they can uncoil. Why?
To feed on the nectar hidden at the base of flowers.
The leatherback turtle's mouth is full of papillae. Why?
They mainly feed on stinging jellyfish and the papillae protect them from the stings.
The mouth of the komodo dragon is full of poisonous bacteria. Why?
To kill prey.
On average, sharks have 15 rows of teeth in each jaw. Why?
Shark teeth are not very strong, have no roots and tend to fall out easily.
Hummingbirds can have very long, thin beaks. Why?
To get to the nectar inside flowers
Camels have tough, hairy, rubbery lips. Why?
To help them to pick at dry and thorny desert plants.
Some snakes can unhinge their jaws. Why?
To swallow large prey whole.
Pelicans have large pouch-like beaks. Why?
To scoop up fish.
Mosquitos have long, hollow needle-like mouth parts. Why?
To pierce the skin of their victims and suck the blood.
This grass-eating baboon can curl back it's gums to show it's terrifying fangs. Why?
To scare off other creatures when they feel threatened.
Giraffe's have blue tongues. Why?
To stop them getting burnt by the sun.
Cheetahs have long sharp incisors at the front of their mouths - why?
To grab and tear at the meat they hunt.
Hawks have hook-like beaks. Why?
To rip apart their prey.