FF-04: Skulls and Bones
Materials List:
Carnivore skulls
a. bob cat, bat
b. rattle snake
c. coyote
Herbivore skulls
a. ground squirrel
b. gopher
c. deer
d. rabbit
Omnivore skulls
a. opossum
b. rat
c. raccoon
Long Bones
Fake Fur
Antler
Pictures of some of the animals listed above
©Environmental Volunteers
Skulls and Bones
FF – 04
page 1
SKULLS AND BONES
SPRING 1995
OBJECTIVES:
Identify herbivores, carnivores and omnivores from their skulls and bones.
FF - 04
SCIENCE THEMES:
Evolution, scale and structure
PROCESS SKILLS:
Comparing, observing, relating, inferring, applying
GRADE LEVELS:
2–6
NEW WORDS:
Herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, habitat, consumer, producer, decomposition, diversity,
chain, adaptation, incisors, canines, molars.
food
ACTIVITY:
Ask students to feel their head. What is under the skin and hair? (Skull)
The skull is the bony part of our body that protects our brain. It helps to anchor the eyes, nose, mouth
and ears. It does not decompose (break down) as other body tissue does. It contains calcium and
minerals that some animals will eat, so we will often find the bones of an animal that has died that
are ''gnawed'' by animals.
Skulls can tell us interesting things about animals. The shape and position of eye sockets, jaws and
teeth are "clues" to help us learn more about the animal. Other bones can tell us how tall the animal
is, or its length, even how it walks or hops.
Other bones are also interesting. You may want the students to find their vertebrae, sternum, ribs,
finger bones etc. Ask them to describe how we would look without our skeletons.
Carnivores
Ask if students know what a carnivore eats. It is a meat eater. Show the skull of a carnivore and
point out the sharp canine teeth that are used to stab or kill prey. Carnivores have sharp, scissor–like
cheek teeth called carnassials, (point out) to cut and chew muscle and bone tissue. Carnivores also
have a large brain cavity, which indicates they are intelligent. Their eyes are forward on the skull for
good depth perception...helpful in hunting and stalking prey.
©Environmental Volunteers
Skulls and Bones
FF – 04
page 2
Carnivores (continued)
What animals can you think of that are carnivores? (Cats, dogs, coyote, wolf, mountain lion, etc.)
The smallest mammal, the shrew, is a carnivore.
Show and discuss other carnivore skulls.
Herbivores
What does a herbivore eat? (plants)
Show the deer skull. The front incisors help this herbivore to bite off favorite leaves, buds and twigs
on trees. The rear molars are spaced far back and enable the animal to chew the plant tissue. Notice
that the molars are rather flat. The eyes are set to the side, so they have better peripheral vision to
watch out for predators. Many plant-eaters (herbivores) are hoofed animals, like goats, sheep,
camels, and deer. These animals walk on their toes and are called ungulates.
Many hoofed animals have horns or antlers. Horn is a slow growing appendage that is permanent.
Horns may be made of a protein called keratin, much like your hair. (Goats, rhino, hippo)
Antlers are fast growing bone that is not permanent. Show the deer antlers. Animals shed these each
year and grow new ones. They are usually branched, like a tree limb. Animals sometimes use horns
or antlers to fight or impress other animals.
Herbivores like cows and sheep graze on low growing plants and grasses. Some browse, eating
twigs, bark, buds and leaves. (deer and giraffe.)
Omnivores
Animals that eat both meat and plants are called omnivores. Show examples. These animals have
canines, but flatter cheek teeth than carnivores and large molars to grind their food. Raccoons, bears
and primates, including humans, are omnivores. Look at each other's teeth.
Some rodents are considered omnivores; they are opportunistic feeders eating whatever is on hand.
Rats are a good example. Some rodents – squirrels – are herbivores. Show a picture of a rodent.
They have two long front incisors in the upper jaw that keep growing like hair or fingernails do.
They must wear the incisors down by "gnawing" on wood or bones. Show rodent skulls and discuss.
Ask if any students have hamsters; do they gnaw on their cage?
Rabbits also have incisors (4 sharp, curved incisors in the upper jaw) that grow, but they are not
rodents, rabbits are considered lagomorphs. Hares are also lagomorphs, but their young are born
fully furred and sighted, ready to flee. Newly born rabbits are naked, with their eyes shut, and are
totally helpless.
©Environmental Volunteers
Skulls and Bones
FF – 04
page 3