I'm sure I remember this from a nature show. Is it true that giraffes only have teeth on their bottom jaw and rarely have any on the top?
2007-02-26 08:28:54 · 7 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Lol, some funny answers there, but at least one serious answer at some point would be cool. =;-P
2007-02-26 08:35:17 · update #1
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/giraffe.htm
"The giraffe's canine teeth are splayed out in two or three lobes to comb the leaves off shoots. Their long black tongue, which can be extended 18 inches, is used to gather food into the mouth. To compensate for the sudden increase in blood pressure when the head is lowered, the giraffe has very elastic blood vessels and valves in the venous system of the neck."
There is a link to a page with a giraffe video, at the very bottom of this page there is a video link about a giraffe and its teeth.
2007-02-26 08:39:35 · answer #1 · answered by Kim S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, that's partly right. Giraffes, like other ruminants (such as deer, pronghorn, sheep, cows, etc) don't have upper incisors or canines. They do have lower incisors (3 pairs) and 1 pair of lower canines that look like incisors (so if you look at the lower jaw of a cow, you'll see 4 pairs of "incisor-like" teeth).
Technically, this is expressed as the following dental formula:
I 0/3, C 0/1, P 3/3, M 3/3 = 32
Where:
I= incisors
C= canines
P= premolars
M= molars
(The fraction expresses Upper/Lower in one half-jaw)
Instead of upper teeth, ruminants have a tough fibrous pad on the upper gums; they use their tongue to grab parts of plants and press them between this pad and the lower teeth.
2007-02-26 20:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does the saying as rare as upper teeth in a giraffe give you a clue?
2007-02-26 16:32:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are correct- the Giraffe,and other ruminants (like cattle) use their tongue in conjuction with their lower teeth. The giraffe's lower teeth are spread apart to allow small branches to be strip of their leaves as they pull back on them.
2007-02-26 16:51:27 · answer #4 · answered by fuscorayj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is true. Also do you know why a Giraffe has a long neck............ If it was any shorter it would not reach his head.
Smurf
2007-02-26 16:33:33 · answer #5 · answered by Smurf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you going to eat fish in the clouds, would you need upper teeth?
2007-02-26 17:14:08 · answer #6 · answered by Perseus 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's true, a man in a pub told me so.
2007-02-26 16:32:02 · answer #7 · answered by wiz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋