What is jaw Kinesis?
Cranial kinesis is the term for significant movement of skull bones relative to each other in addition to movement at the joint between the upper and lower jaw. It is usually taken to mean relative movement between the upper jaw and the braincase. Cranial kinesis, or lack thereof, is usually linked to feeding.
Why do alligators look like dinosaurs?
So, are alligators related to dinosaurs? Yes, both alligators and dinosaurs are archosaurs that have common ancestors from the mid-Triassic period, roughly 230 million years ago. They share common characteristics such as laying eggs, long hind legs, and short forelimbs and teeth that are set in sockets.
Do crocodiles have openings in skull for muscles?
Like all reptiles, crocodiles are diapsids—i.e., they have two openings on each side of the skull. In the true crocodiles (Eusuchia), which appear in the Upper Jurassic, the choanae are entirely enclosed by the pterygoids (that is, the paired bones on the lower part of the cranium).
Are alligator bones hollow?
It’s one of a family of dinosaurs that had a huge, hollow bone growing in its back. These bones, which are actually embedded in the skin, are what create the scales on the backs of alligators and the armor covering armadillos, not to mention the famous plating found on dinosaurs like Stegosaurus.
Can alligators unhinge their jaw?
CROCODILES HAVE SECOND JOINT Researchers believe the jaws of crocodiles and alligators have a second jaw joint which enables the reptiles to clamp down on their prey, spreading the force so their jaws don’t twist or lose grip during their powerful bite.
What animals can move their upper jaw?
Answer: sharks has movable upper jaw.
Why does a crocodile head look like an alligator head?
The crocodile skull looks a lot like the alligator head because crocodiles and alligators only have a very thin skin over the bone. You can see the sticky out bits on the lower jaw which were cut off on the alligator.
What kind of bone is on an alligator’s back?
The skin on the alligator’s back is covered with plates made of bone. These bony bumps are called osteoderms (AH-stee-oh-durms) or scutes (skyoots). They are found in lots of living and extinct reptiles. These plates form a layer that protects the alligator’s organs.
How big is the head of an alligator?
The head on the left is an alligator, and the skull on the right is a crocodile. Both are very young and small. The alligator head is about 12cm long, and the crocodile is about 9.5cm to the back of the skull.
Why does an alligator have skin on its back?
It is very hard to penetrate the skin on an alligator’s back. The alligator also has a strong tail that propels it through the water, and the alligator’s powerful jaws can crack a turtle shell. God designed the alligator to be a potent predator that helps maintain balance in the animal kingdom.
What kind of body does an alligator have?
However, their snouts are broader, flat, and rounded on the end. Also, their lower teeth cannot be seen when their mouths are closed. Alligators resemble lizards in shape but with thicker bodies and tails. Their eyes stick above their skulls so they can see when their bodies are underwater.
Why do alligators turn their heads all the time?
First, he looked at HOX genes from groups four and five, which control neck development in chick and mouse embryos. In alligators, the vertebrae forming the neck have cervical ribs, similar to the chest, and thus very little flexibility, which is why alligators have to turn their whole bodies to move their heads around.
Is the upper jaw of an alligator part of the skull?
Fab Facts. An alligator’s upper jaw is actually part of its skull. Alligators can walk, run, and crawl. The so-called “high-walk” is when an alligator’s limbs are directly underneath its body (instead of splayed to the side) so it can lift his whole body and most of the tail off the ground.
How are alligators able to climb a fence?
With their sharp claws and powerful tails, alligators are able to help push their bodies up onto fences. Young alligators are typically more agile climbers, but adults have been known to climb fences to get to water or away from humans.
