How can you tell what an animal eats by looking at its teeth?

The shape and structure of an animal's teeth can provide insights into its diet and feeding habits. Different dietary adaptations are reflected in tooth morphology, allowing us to deduce an animal's primary food source:

Herbivores:

- Flat, square-shaped molars for grinding plant material

Carnivores:

- Sharp, conical canine teeth for seizing and killing prey

- Blad-like molars specialized for slicing through flesh

Omnivores:

- A combination of incisors for cutting, canines for gripping, and flat molars for grinding both plant and animal matter

Insectivores:

- Sharp, pointed teeth well-suited for capturing and crushing insects

Frugivores:

- Small, rounded molars adapted for a fruit-based diet

Piscivores:

- Conical, pointed teeth and lack molar adaptations, reflecting a specialization in fish consumption

The size and prominence of various dental structures also offer clues about an animal's niche within its ecological community and how it fits into the greater food web.