Carnassial

As a scissor bite is referred to by a bite, in which the teeth do not run vertically to each other, but just to each other. Unlike incisors or molars the sharp faces of the teeth when the jaw is closed, does not oppose each other, but are, as in the cutting of a closed shears, hence the name.

Although this tooth position is very effective for shredding flesh food and bones, these teeth form emerged in the animal kingdom rarely. Fish, amphibians and reptiles have generally developed no scissors teeth, although there were many big booty border and carnivorous species, especially among the reptiles.

Operation

When is jaw -closing the sharp surfaces of the teeth slide past each other and can just cut a piece of meat from a small, disc-like chunks.

As a special feature within the scissoring of the dentition, the fourth premolar of the upper jaw and the first molar of the lower jaw are designed as so-called crushing scissors, whose jagged profile the scissors effect still supported and can bite very powerful due to its low leverage, for example, in the dog. They are also called fangs (not to be confused with the canines or teeth that serve the detention, but not the crushing of prey ).

Some predators are able to zerraspeln by continuing to bite with low feed meat and even bones and bring in so mushy form. This enables them to fully renounce molars yet to greatly increase the surface of the food. In cats, this principle is also supported by the rough tongue.

Predator with scissors bite to swallow any major chunks, allowing a more effective digestion, digestive organs leaner and less physical stress through the digestive process. The typical reptiles providing larger amounts of acidic digestive juices as well as a distinctive system of secretion and absorption fall away. Even predators that take a lot of meat in one sitting, this digest relatively quickly and can do without extended periods of rest after meals. The esophagus is not designed for a strong expansion, which has influence on the other seated in the neck organs as well as the position of the head to the torso.

The scissor bite does not preclude the inclusion of vegetable food, but is significantly less effective than a set of teeth with molars.