1. carnassial - Noun
2. carnassial - Adjective
3. carnassial - Adjective Satellite
Adapted to eating flesh.
A carnassial tooth; especially, the last premolar in many carnivores.
Source: Webster's dictionarythe carnassial teeth of carnivores Source: Internet
A 100 kg (220 lb) jaguar can bite with a force of 503.57 kgf (1110 lbf) at canine teeth and 705.79 kgf (1556 lbf) at carnassial notch. citation This strength adaptation allows the jaguar to pierce turtle shells. Source: Internet
Carnivorans all share the same arrangement of teeth in which the last upper premolar (named P4) and the first lower molar (named m1) have blade-like enamel crowns that work together as carnassial teeth to shear meat. Source: Internet
Dogs have molar teeth behind the carnassials for crushing bones, but cats have only a greatly reduced, functionless molar behind the carnassial in the upper jaw. Source: Internet
Tanzanian cheetah in pursuit of a Thomson's gazelle A cheetah suffocating an impala by a throat bite Cheetahs use their carnassial teeth to tear the flesh. Source: Internet
Diet is varied and most tend to be omnivorous to some degree, and thus the carnassial teeth are less specialized. Source: Internet