A carnivore primarily eats meat while an herbivore eats plants. Mammals that eat a variety of things are called omnivores.

From bark and berries to fish and flesh, mammal diets are extremely varied, and may even change according to what food is available during certain times of the year. Carnivores may either hunt down their own prey, or scavenge off a carcass left behind by another predator. Herbivores feed on a variety of plant material, from tender shoots during the spring to rough bark during times of little food. Omnivores are often opportunistic feeders whose diet may range from fresh fish one day, to nuts and berries another. With so many diets to remember, how can you keep it all straight? One way to determine what an animal eats is by looking at its skull. The structure or shape of a mammal’s jaw and teeth, as well as the placement of its eyes, are related to its diet. These characteristic function together to help a mammal catch food, as well as avoid becoming food for other animals. Looking at these visual clues can help you draw conclusions about a mammal’s diet.

Eye Placement and Eyesight

The placement of a mammal’s eyes can often indicate if it is a predator or a prey animal. Predators have eyes that face forward. The field of vision for each eye overlaps in the front to create binocular vision. Binocular vision gives the predator better depth perception and helps them catch prey moving at high speeds. A prey animal has eyes that face sideways, with only a small area of overlap between the field of vision for each eye. This large field of vision lets the prey animal see almost all the way around its body, giving it lots of opportunity to spot a predator and run to safety.

Teeth and Jaws

A mammal’s teeth are specially designed for its diet. Carnivores, like the lion, will have long, pointed canines for stabbing and sharp, scissor-like incisors for slicing through flesh. Herbivores, such as the caribou, use their flat molars and premolars for grinding plant mate-rial. Some herbivores, like a beaver, have large incisors or front teeth that help with gnawing. Omnivores, such as boars and humans, have a combination of both pointed and flat teeth to match their varied diet.

The shape of a mammal’s jaw can also provide clues to its diet. Herbivores tend to have thick, square lower jaws that help with grinding and crushing tough plant material. The lower jaw of a carnivore is slender and works with the upper teeth like a pair of scissors, slicing and cutting the meat of its prey. Do you notice these characteristics in the pictures below?