Animal Nutrition Lab: Dentition

Dentition relates to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. More specifically, it is the specific
arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species. Observing the type of teeth an organism has can tell us what
type of food for which they have adapted. Dental formulas, like the example to the right, represent the numbers and
types of teeth a species has. Comparing the dental formulas can help us determine the diet of a species.

There are three types of teeth:

● Canines: Sharp, pointed teeth help animals tear
● Incisors: Sharp, flat teeth help animals snip or cut
● Molars: Large, flat teeth help grind tough materials

Fill in the following information for each skull using the dental formulas below.

Zebra Elephant Lion Baboon Rhino

3 1 4 3 1 0 0 3 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 0 0 3 3

3 1 4 3 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 4 0 0 3 3

● Baboon
Species: ______________________________

● Predict what diet this species has: (circle one)

CARNIVORE

Reasoning:
0
OMNIVORE HERBIVORE

Because it has canineteeth and molars

● Lion
Species: ______________________________

● Predict what diet this species has: (circle one)

CARNIVORE OMNIVORE HERBIVORE

Reasoning:
Theirteetharesharp and
pointywhich is a trait seen in
carnivores

Analysis Questions:
1. Determine the dental formula for the species below:

I 8
Becausethey herbivores And
they don'tneedthem
are
2. Why do some species lack canine teeth? __________________________________________________________

3. What does this tell you about the function of canine teeth?They used
are to eat and chew
___________________________________________
up
Meat
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Molars are used

4. All of these species have molars. What does this tell you about their function? ____________________________

to chew plants
___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What substance makes plant material more difficult to digest?Cellulose

________________________________________

6. Do you think all species require the same macromolecule (protein, carbs, fat) amounts in their diet? Explain.

No each animal designed differently

is theyand have
different needs
___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________
 Animal Nutrition Lab: Dietary Requirements
Introduction: The table below shows nutritional requirements for each species broken down by nutrients (protein, fats,
carbohydrates). Additionally, the mass of the total daily minimum amount required is provided in kilograms (kg). Note
that some diets vary due to different levels of fiber (indigestible plant material) consumed. Convert the Daily Amount
Required in pounds to kilograms. Use the example below to help you.

Table 1:
Amounts of
Amount of Food Calories
Macromolecules
Species
Protein Fats Carbs Kg
lbs Calories
(kg) (kg) (kg) (0.454 kg = 1.0 lbs)

12.13 lbs x 0.454 kg = 5.5 kg

1 lb

African
1.32 0.50 0.00 14.96 lbs x 0.454 kg = 6.8 kg 12.13 – 14.96 10,000
lion
1 lb

New Range: ___5.5__ - __6.8 kg

154lbs x
41 7kg
Grevy’s
0.80 0.10 5.40 18.7 775 85kg 15.4 – 18.7 8,000
zebra

7 8.5 kg
New Range: __________ - __________

88lbs x MT 400
650
Guinea
0.11 0.02 0.16
143x 0.88 – 1.43 1,400
baboon

1400
New Range: __________ 650
- __________ kg

015
033x47
1049X47 020
African
0.006 0.002 0.0006 0.033 – 0.044 70
hedgehog

oh
New Range: __________ 020
- __________ kg

7. Which species consumes the most protein? Why do they need a lot of protein? What is protein used for?
needsthemostprotienTheyneed alotofprotienbletheyneedtohavemusclesandbestrongenough
thelionother
to hunt provenisusedto
animals buildandrepair
muscles andgiveyoucongtermenergy
8. Which species consumes the most fats? Why do they need a lot of fat? What is fat used for?
thelionsconsumethemostfat'stheyneeda lot of fat bletheyneeda lot ofenergy
Fatgivesyou energy

9. Which species consumes the most carbohydrates? Why do they need a lot of carbs? What are carbs used for?
Zehra's consume
themostcarbsTheyeat a lotofcarbsbe it easyforthem to collectbecarb'saregrass
Carb'sprovidethebodywiglucosewhichconverts
toenergy Carbs give energy

10. Who consumes the most food in general? Why do you think that is?
Lion'sconsumethemost
food I thinkthat'sbletheyarethebiggestoutofalloftheotheranimalsand
theyneedtohuntmore

Zebra bk grass doesn't givelots ofnutrients

Dietary Planning Menu
Animal Matter:
Dietary Item Portion Size Protein Content (%) Fat Content (%) Carb. Content (%) Energy Available (kcal)

Deer 5.0 kg 80.7% 6.3% ----- 7,850 kcal

Quail 1.5 kg 71.5% 31.9% ----- 2,880 kcal

Rabbit 1.0 kg 72.1% 13% ----- 1,360 kcal

Rat 0.1 kg 57.9% 23.7% ----- 600 kcal

Mouse 0.03 kg 64.2% 17% ----- 150 kcal

Toad 0.02 kg 61.8% 13.7% ----- 92 kcal

Frog 0.01 kg 71.2% 10.2% ----- 50 kcal

Superworms (50 count) 0.01 kg 56.9% 26.2% 5.8% 24 kcal

Wax Worms (100 count) 0.01 kg 42.4% 46.4% 2.5% 70 kcal

Plant Matter:
Dietary Item Portion Size Protein Content (%) Fat Content (%) Carb. Content (%) Energy Available (kcal)

Alfalfa hay 5.0 kg 19% 1.5% 56% 9,000 kcal

Orchard grass 5.0 kg 12.9% 1.5% 85% 9,145 kcal

Cantaloupe 0.75 kg 7.8% 1.4% 89.1% 255 kcal

Grapes 0.3 kg 4% 4.1% 57.6% 207 kcal

Strawberries 0.225 kg 6.7% 4.7% 90.1% 72 kcal

Dandelion greens 0.2 kg 2.7% 0.7% 12.7% 90 kcal

Apple 0.2 kg 1.1% 3.6% 89.5% 104 kcal

Banana 0.175 kg 3% 0.6% 64.5% 156 kcal

Be sure to follow the checklist below:

Copy down the Amount of Food the species needs in kg listed in Table 1, page 1 (yellow box)
Copy down the Amount of Macromolecules (protein, fat, and carbs) listed in Table 1, page 1 (green boxes)
Copy down the Calories listed in Table 1, page 1 (dark blue boxes)
If needed… Pick appropriate food items from the menu above (blue boxes)
- If you choose to have the species eat the same item twice, write it twice.
Copy down the Portion Size of each food item listed in the menu (red boxes)
Copy down the Percent Content of Protein, Fat, and Carbs for each food item listed in the menu (purple boxes)
Copy down the Energy Available for each food item listed in the menu (orange boxes)
Calculate the Mass of protein, fat, and carbs present in the item. Mass = portion size x % (white boxes)
- When you use the % in calculations, make sure you turn the % value into a decimal value Ex) 23% = 0.23
Calculate the TOTAL Daily Amounts by adding the values in each column (pink boxes)
Determine if the species met the requirements by comparing your calculated totals to the amounts in the white boxes below.
- Circle Yes or No (light grey boxes)
African lion: Lions eat wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, gazelles, warthogs, and other animals. If larger animals are
unavailable, they will eat smaller animals like rodents.
Protein Fat Carbohydrates Energy
Dietary Item Portion Size Available
% Mass % Mass % Mass (Kcal)

5kg 807 4.03 6.3 315 O O

Deer
71850kcal

Quail
1blog 71.51.0725 31.990.4785 O O 21880kcal

Mouse
03kg 6412.01926 17 0051 O O 150kcal

Total Daily Amounts

6.53 5.17676 70 0 101880

Requirements
5.5 6.8 1.32 90 0 101000
Within range? Protein met? Fats met? Carbs met? Calories met?
O
Yes/No
O Yes/No
O
Yes/No
O
Yes/No
O
Yes/No

Grevy’s zebra: In the wild, zebras eat tall coarse grasses. At the zoo, zebras are fed different types of plant material.
Protein Fat Carbohydrates Energy
Portion
Dietary Item Available
Size
% Mass % Mass % Mass (Kcal)

Orchard Grass
5kg 11.9 6451.5 075 89010.425 91936cg
Cantaloupe
075kg 7.8 0585 1.4 0075 89.1 6.95 254cal
Cantaloupe
79kg 7.8 05851.4 0075 89.1 6.95 244kcal
Cantaloupe
73129 7.88 0585 1.4 0075 89.1 6.95 2551491
Strawberries
22512g 6.790.019 4.7 1011 90.1 10 72kcal
21.51 9982
7475 84
Total Daily Amounts
011
Requirements
7 8.5 80 110 5.40 8,000
Within range? Protein met? Fats met? Carbs met? Calories met?

O
Yes/No
O
Yes/No
0Yes/No
0
Yes/No
0
Yes/No
Guinea baboon: In the wild, baboons consume mostly fruit, but also some grass, leaves, insects, and worms. In the zoo,
baboons are fed fruits and vegetables, and sometimes small, living animals.

The baboon below has been fed 2 servings of banana so far. However, they haven’t met the requirements. Choose two
additional food items from the menu and add them to the chart to meet all requirements.
Protein Fat Carbohydrates Energy
Portion
Dietary Item Available
Size
% Mass % Mass % Mass (Kcal)

Banana
175119 3010.00529 690.00105 6915 113 156
Banana

You pick a food item

174kg 3 100524.6 00109 64.58.113 156
cantaloupe 05851.4 007989.1 6.94 255
751297.8
You pick a food item

alfalfaHay Sky 1900.99 1.940.079 56 7.8 9000

GI 1.02 9.8 9561
Total Daily Amounts
0846
Requirements
4001650 11 02 16 1,400
Within
Protein met? Fats met? Carbs met? Calories met?

O
range?

O
Yes/No
O
Yes/No
OYes/No Yes/No
oYes/No

African hedgehog: In the wild, hedgehogs eat worms, snails, arthropods, frogs, lizards, snakes, eggs, birds, small
mammals, carrion, fruits, seeds, peanuts, fungi, and roots. At the zoo, they are fed worms, insects, vegetables, and fruit.

Choose two food items from the menu that will help the hedgehog meet all requirements.
Protein Fat Carbohydrates Energy
Portion
Dietary Item Available
Size
% Mass % Mass % Mass (Kcal)

frog 01 71.2 00712 10.290.00102 0 0 50

apple 2 1.1 00223.6 007289.9 179 104
Total Daily Amounts
M 009 008 179 15h
Requirements 014010 006 002 0006 70
Within
Protein met? Fats met? Carbs met? Calories met?

O
range?
O O U
Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No
OYes/No
Analysis Questions:

00
11. In which type of foods is protein content the highest? (Circle one) Animal Matter OR Plant Matter

12. In which type of foods is carbohydrate content the highest? (Circle one) Animal Matter OR Plant Matter

13. Why must lions expend/use more energy than their herbivorous prey to eat?
Because lions need to hunt their food whileherbivorescanjust eat it

14. Circle which species live in social groups? (Google this)

0
LION
0
ZEBRA
0
BABOON HEDGEHOG

How could this affect their nutritional needs?

They need to sharetheir food Solionsforexamplewouldneedtohuntmore andhuntingusesenergy

15. Do individual animals have the same dietary needs every single day of the year? Why or why not?

Notit candepend on thephysicalenvironmentForexample if it iscolderthentheyusemoreenergy to

stay warm