#Predator vs prey skull full
#Predator vs prey skull series

Cones are microscopic structures in our eyes that detect color rods are similarly microscopic structures that detect light. *To avoid sounding misleading – another factor of nocturnal vision relies on cones and rods.

If we had eyes that were as proportionally large as an owl’s, we would have eyes the size of grapefruits. The trade-off is that a prey animal may not be able to see something a few inches directly in front of their face (think horses), but they are more likely to spot a predator long before it’s a problem.Ī general rule of thumb is that animals with larger eyes are nocturnal, and their large eyes allow them to take advantage of even faint light sources.* If you look at a classic nocturnal animal, the owl, the eyes are a massive portion of their face. On the other hand, prey animals have a greater need for wide-angled vision to spot predators from as many angles as possible. They may have been an omnivore, but predator eyes are directly in front to allow the animal to focus directly on a prey animal. Picture a few predators-wolves, cougars, lions, tigers, humans-where are their eyes? If their eyes are in the direct front, like ours, the animal was likely a species who hunted. If you find a skull and you know nothing else about it, this helpful little rhyme will tell you something important: Eyes in the front, I like to hunt. Was This Animal a Predator or Prey species?

#Predator vs prey skull full

By comparison, the average human produces a bite force of approximately 160 pounds per square inch, but remember that little opossums only weigh an average 8-14 pounds! Of course, nature is full of exceptions a few crocodilians have the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom and they lack a sagittal crest altogether! Opossums have a bite strength of roughly 45 pounds per square inch. The picture below shows an opossum skull, complete with a sagittal crest (raccoon is the smooth skull for reference). The reason: the sole purpose of the crest is to hold extra muscle for the animal’s jaw. This ridge is called a sagittal crest, and it’s a sign that the animal packs a load of power in its bite. Some skulls, though, have a distinctly pronounced ridge that runs along of the top. If you feel the top of your head, it should be relatively smooth and rounded. They may have the pronounced canines and incisors of a carnivore but the molars and premolars more akin to an herbivore. What about omnivores? Understandably, their teeth combine the traits of herbivore and omnivore dentition. They also have a space between their incisors and the next set of teeth (this space is called a diastema) which allows them to more easily manipulate plant materials in preparation for chewing. The front incisors are flanked by elongated canines, and the premolars, molars, and carnassials are sharp and serrated for cutting through meat.Īnimals that are more strictly herbivores generally have sharp incisors, no canines or canines that resemble incisors. In the coyote skull model below, you can see the classic dentition (organization of teeth) of an animal that largely eats meat. Let’s break down a few of these secrets, shall we? That skull itself actually holds a number of secrets that can tell you quite a bit about the animal, even if you don’t know what it was. Our Decoding Nature summer campers will be decoding some skull mysteries this afternoon, would you like to get in on that fun too? Let’s imagine that you are out in the woods, and you found a skull! And you have no idea what it came from.

#Predator vs prey skull series

A resource of Biophilia: Pittsburgh, #bioPGH is a weekly blog and social media series that aims to encourage both children and adults to reconnect with nature and enjoy what each of our distinctive seasons has to offer.