Max And Maxine's Excellent Adventure In The Skull Museum - physiology of animal skulls

Ranger Rick, Oct, 2000 by Deborah Churchman

ANTELOPE (Plant Eater)

Eyes on the sides to look all around for danger.

GRINDERS

Rough molars for grinding up plant parts.

NIPPERS

Chisel-like incisors (in-SIZE-erz) for nipping off plants.

LEOPARD (Meat Eater)

Eyes facing front work together to tell how far away prey is.

STABBERS

Knife-like canines (KAY-nines) for grabbing and stabbing prey and tearing flesh.

SLICERS

Sharp-edged molars work like scissors for slicing meat.

HEADS UP!

Skulls show where most animals' eyes, ears, mouths, and noses are. The shape, size, and position of these parts can tell you a lot about how the animals live.

On Halloween, my cousin Max invited me on a tour of the Skull Museum. (That's where he lives.) How weird, I thought. What's the point of looking at a bunch of bones?

"Maxine, I can tell a lot about how these animals lived just from their skulls," Max bragged. "For example, I'll bet I can tell you what each animal ate and how it got its food."

"I can tell what YOU ate too, cheese breath," I said.

As we began our tour, Max acted like some kind of big detective guy. But I figured out a lot by myself. Hey, I'll bet you can too. Come along with me, and then use what you learn to ace the game on page 23.

Max kept on yakking away: "Many hunters, like owls and leopards, have eyes toward the front of their skulls. That lets them focus both eyes on their prey - and tell how far away it is," he said. "Many plant- eaters, like beavers and antelopes, have eyes on the sides of their heads. That gives them a wide view to watch out for enemies."

"My mother has eyes at the back of her head," I told him.

"That's because she needs to keep track of YOU," said Max.

As we crept into the next room, Max said, "This is the room where everything's big. For example, just look at that big-mouthed snake."

"I've been listening to a big mouth ever since I got here," I told him.

But you know what? I learned a lot on this tour. Just don't tell Max, OK?

BEAVER

Check out these big front teeth! Rodents such as mice, squirrels, and beavers use them for nibbling and gnawing. The teeth wear down as the animal chews, but they never stop growing.

See these grinding molars? Do they tell you that a beaver eats meat or plants?

This is a beaver's whole upper tooth. Isn't it e-gnaw-mous?

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR

Eyes on top help the garo see above water as it floats.

Nostrils on top let the garo breathe while floating.

Animals with nothing but pointed teeth, or NO teeth, don't chew. They grab and gulp!

GREAT HORNED OWL

Rings of special bones support and protect the huge eyeballs.

Big eyes are a clue that this animal is a night hunter. (Large eyes gather more light.)

Sharp beak works like canine teeth to tear flesh.

SO B-I-G

A braincase is where the brain is held. A big case means a big brain - and maybe big smarts. Animals with big mouths can swallow big prey - either whole or in big chunks.

GIBBON (APE)

Big braincase for big brain.

Shovel-shaped incisors for biting fruit.

Long canines used to threaten - or even attack - other gibbons.

RATTLESNAKE

Tiny braincase for tiny brain.

A snake's mouth can open extra wide to swallow prey whole. And see how the lower jaws are separated at the front? That allows them to work like two hands. The jaws' hook-like teeth grab on to prey and drag it toward the throat, one side at a time. The mouth slowly "walks" over the prey.