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2007-02-21 01:26:58 · 3 answers · asked by hannah 1 in Health ➔ Dental
A manatee's teeth are similar to the molars of some other mammals (like cows) and are located in the back half of the lower and upper jaws. They are unique in that they are replaced horizontally, as opposed to vertically as in most other mammals. Tooth replacement is continuous (polyphyodont) throughout their lives, as opposed to that of other mammals that replace a single set of teeth once in a lifetime (diphyodont).
The teeth or "dentation" of manatees is very unique. They have just one kind of teeth-- hind molars. And they have what's called "hind molar progression". also know as "marching molars". This means that their teeth are constantly moving forward. When the teeth get to front of the row on both top and bottom, they wear down from just the chewing--of whatever vegetation they're chewing--and the roots are resorbed so what they end up with is just a plate. Then by the time they get to the front of the row the plate falls out and the next tooth is moved forward. So it's a constant resorption and moving of the roots up the jaw with new teeth being emerged from the back. And it's an indeterminant number of teeth.
How many teeth do they have? At any one time, it can be about seven per quadrant. Usually calves have four teeth per quadrant, and as they get larger they may have seven in each quadrant. But over a lifetime,the number changes, because that rate of movement is different depending on their diet, and how much sand is in the area where they're feeding, and how coarse the vegetation is if they're feeding on coarse grasses you know their teeth are going to migrate more quickly than they would if they're just feeding on soft freshwater vegetation most of the time.
In comparison to other mammals' teeth, Manatee teeth are very unique. Rather than having one tooth fall out and then be replaced in the same spot with another (vertically), Manatee teeth are just continually replaced horizontally (marching molars). Tooth replacement continues throughout their life.
Enjoy!
2007-02-21 01:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by krodgibami 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How Big Are Manatees
2017-02-27 14:29:35 · answer #2 · answered by rager 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GO TO GOOGLE.COM.
TYPE IN MANATEES TEETH AND YOU WILL GO A WHOLE BUCNH OF DETAILS AN PICTURES TOOO!!!!
2007-02-21 20:42:11 · answer #3 · answered by LX 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋