Page 7 - Kind News, Jan/Feb 2022

HUMANE HERO
CURIOSITY CORNER
CRITTER

CLUES

Do Fish 1 I live in forests and woodlands,

Have Teeth? sometimes in dead trees,
woodpecker holes, or
abandoned nests.
2 There are many other types of
my animal, but I am a special
Have you ever seen fish chew their food? Chances are, you haven’t. kind who can glide through the
Generally, fish do not chew their food the same way that mammals air from tree to tree!
opposite page: redrover this page, from top: (curiosity corner) kabita darlami/unsplash; jenny smith/unsplash;
do. But all fish have teeth. The types of teeth fish have depend on the
diets they eat. Fish who eat other fish have teeth shaped like cones 3 I have to be very alert — I am
and ones that are flat and wide to capture, hold, and crush their prey. prey to owls, hawks, tree
snakes, or other climbing
Fish who eat plants have teeth that are flat and chisel-shaped to shred mammals.
algae and vegetation found in the sea. Depending on the species, fish
teeth can be found inside the lips or along the jaws. Some fish, like 4 I am an omnivore, so I eat
goldfish, have their teeth positioned at the back of their throat! These many different foods, including
teeth are known as pharyngeal teeth, which are used to process food nuts, fruit, insects, and
and move it from the mouth to the stomach. sometimes even eggs and
What other similarities have you noticed between humans and fish? birds!
The next time you encounter a fish, whether in the wild or at home, 5 Since I am nocturnal, which
take a moment to jot down your observations. means active at night, you may
never see me.

6 I glide so well that humans
have created a special
What's the POINT skydiving suit that mimics the
of teeth? way I glide!

Dogs use their long, pointy 7 I am in the rodent family, the
canine teeth to grasp, lift, pull, largest group of mammals,
which includes rats, mice,
and defend themselves. beavers, chinchillas, and more.
All cats’ teeth are pointy! What am I?
(critter clues) bigstock. Dogs 42, Humans 32,
TEETH BY THE
NUMBERS

Cats 30, Rabbits 28,
Hamsters 16

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ANSWER: A GUMMY BEAR! Jan/Feb 2022 | 7