Question

Wolves and other canids have adapted to have very specialized oral anatomy. They have short incisors in the front; long, sharp canines next to the incisors; and larger, flatter molars and premolars in the back.
Image courtesy of Dean Cluff, Environment and Natural
Resources Government of the Northwest Territories.

What does the wolf's oral anatomy indicate about how it survives in its environment?
A.
The wolf is an omnivore that uses its incisors to capture small animals and its canine teeth to rip plant material from trees.

B.
The wolf is a carnivore that depends on its canine teeth to puncture flesh and its molars to crush bone.

C.
The wolf is an omnivore that depends on its canine teeth to puncture flesh and its molars to grind plant material.

D.
The wolf is a carnivore that first swallows its prey whole, then regurgitates its meal and reprocesses it with its molars.

Answer 1

Answer is (B) The wolf is a carnivore that depends on its canine teeth to puncture flesh and its molars to crush bone.

Wolves and other canids have adapted to have very specialized oral anatomy. They have short incisors in the front; long, sharp canines next to the incisors; and larger, flatter molars and premolars in the back. The sharp canine teeth are used to grab the prey tightly by puncturing its skin. The flat molars help the wolf to break the bones and help in chewing the meat.