Herbivore dentition

• Incisors and horny pad of herbivores:

  • sharp
  • chisel shaped

  Function:

  • vegetation gets cut off the plant
• Diastema (no canines) of herbivores function:

  • allows manipulation of the food by the tongue
• Premolars and molars of herbivores:

  • large
  • interlocking in a WM arrangement

  function:

  • grind the tough plant material
  • prevent the edges of the teeth from being chipped away by abrasive food