2007-02-16 01:15:17 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Modern birds don't have teeth, but their ancestors (including Archaeopteryx, the first known fossil bird) did have tecodont (=held within alveoli) teeth, like the rest of the Archosaurs (dinosaurs, crocodiles, birds, and some other fossil forms).
A modern bird _might_ suffer a mutation that would activate the tooth-forming mechanism (because the "instructions" are still in the genome of the species). When an individual displays such an ancestral character, it is called an 'atavism'. But as far as I know, this has been achieved experimentally, not naturally.
On a different note, egg-laying amniotes have a special element called "egg tooth". It may be a true tooth as in lizards and snakes, or a horny 'tooth' as in turtles and archosaurs (birds and crocodilians).
This special tooth protrudes on the the beak/snout of embryos and helps them break the eggshell during hatching. It then disappears.
(btw the egg-laying mammalian platypus also has an egg tooth)
Here's an interesting article about atavisms:
http://mentor.lscf.ucsb.edu/course/spring/eemb102/papers/Babys.pdf
2007-02-16 02:53:32 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
No, they do not. However, they retain the genetic patterns to form teeth in the jaws. It is normally dormant in living chickens, but mutated chickens have been known to grow teeth on occasion.
2007-02-16 01:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To get to the other side!
Chickens don't have teeth. Just beaks.
2007-02-16 01:18:03 · answer #3 · answered by hatevirtual 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
what? no way am i gonna devour teeth of something or all people. why would u do this? u only dont do this! and particular I truthfully have teeth yet that doesnt advise im gonna chip them and devour them. god how weird and wonderful.
2016-11-23 12:51:58 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chickens have no teeth
2007-02-16 01:18:21 · answer #5 · answered by Blur Blur Gal 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. If they did, they wouldn't need to eat sand for their gizzard to ground up the food so that their body can use it.
2007-02-16 04:06:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, they're similar the sharks teeth.
2007-02-16 01:19:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
no modern birds have teeth, however their ancestors did, and they have the fossils that show it.
2007-02-16 02:20:51 · answer #8 · answered by Falcon Man 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
2007-02-16 01:18:15 · answer #9 · answered by Baby #1 born August 2009 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They kinda have and its call beak
2007-02-16 01:40:53 · answer #10 · answered by thenewhorzta 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋