Knowra Canine tooth Canine tooth A pointed tooth positioned between the incisors and cheek teeth. In many mammals, it helps grip, pierce, or tear food and may also serve in defense or display.
Incisor : A tooth with a relatively flat, sharp edge, commonly used to cut or bite food. Incisors sit immediately in front of canines in many mammalian tooth rows.
Tooth crown : The visible part of a tooth, usually covered by enamel. The exposed crown forms the canine’s pointed working surface.
Carnassial : A specialized pair of upper and lower cheek teeth that shear flesh in many carnivorans. Carnassials cut meat behind the canines, which grip or puncture prey.
Herbivore : An animal whose diet consists primarily of plant material. Many herbivores have reduced or absent canines, unlike animals relying on prominent gripping teeth.
Premolar : A tooth behind the canine, often bearing cusps suited to crushing or shearing food. Premolars are among the cheek teeth positioned behind the canine.
Tooth root : The part of a tooth anchored within the jaw. A canine’s root secures its long crown against pulling and bending forces.
Tusk : An elongated tooth that projects beyond the mouth and is used for defense, display, or other functions. Some mammalian tusks are enlarged canines.
Rodent incisor : A continuously growing, chisel-shaped incisor characteristic of rodents. Rodent incisors cut and gnaw, unlike pointed canines specialized for gripping or piercing.
Molar : A back tooth with a broad surface used mainly to crush or grind food. Molars complete the cheek-tooth region behind the canine.
Enamel : The hard, mineral-rich outer covering of a tooth crown. Enamel protects the canine’s exposed surface from wear.
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