FACIAL MUSCLES
Carnivore – Reduced to allow wide mouth gape
Herbivore – Well-developed
Omnivore – Reduced
Human – Well-developed
JAW TYPE
Carnivore – Angle not expanded
Herbivore – Expanded angle
Omnivore – Angle not expanded
Human – Expanded angle
JAW JOINT LOCATION
Carnivore – On same plane as molar teeth
Herbivore – Above the plane of the molars
Omnivore – On same plane as molar teeth
Human – Above the plane of the molars
JAW MOTION
Carnivore – Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion
Herbivore – No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
Omnivore – Shearing; minimal side-to-side
Human – No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
MAJOR JAW MUSCLES
Carnivore – Temporalis
Herbivore – Masseter and pterygoids
Omnivore – Temporalis
Human – Masseter and pterygoids
MOUTH OPENING VS. HEAD SIZE
Carnivore – Large
Herbivore – Small
Omnivore – Large
Human – Small
TEETH (INCISORS)
Carnivore – Short and pointed
Herbivore – Broad, flattened and spade shaped
Omnivore – Short and pointed
Human – Broad, flattened and spade shaped
TEETH (CANINES)
Carnivore – Long, sharp and curved
Herbivore – Dull and short or long (for defense), or none
Omnivore – Long, sharp and curved
Human – Short and blunted
TEETH (MOLARS)
Carnivore – Sharp, jagged and blade shaped
Herbivore – Flattened with cusps vs complex surface
Omnivore – Sharp blades and/or flattened
Human – Flattened with nodular cusps
CHEWING
Carnivore – None; swallows food whole
Herbivore – Extensive chewing necessary
Omnivore – Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing
Human – Extensive chewing necessary
SALIVA
Carnivore – No digestive enzymes
Herbivore – Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
Omnivore – No digestive enzymes
Human – Carbohydrate digesting enzymes
STOMACH TYPE
Carnivore – Simple
Herbivore – Simple or multiple chambers
Omnivore – Simple
Human – Simple
STOMACH ACIDITY
Carnivore – Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
Herbivore – pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
Omnivore – Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach
Human – pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
STOMACH CAPACITY
Carnivore – 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
Herbivore – Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract
Omnivore – 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
Human – 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract
LENGTH OF SMALL INTESTINE
Carnivore – 3 to 6 times body length
Herbivore – 10 to more than 12 times body length
Omnivore – 4 to 6 times body length
Human – 10 to 11 times body length
COLON
Carnivore – Simple, short and smooth
Herbivore – Long, complex; may be sacculated
Omnivore – Simple, short and smooth
Human – Long, sacculated
LIVER
Carnivore – Can detoxify vitamin A
Herbivore – Cannot detoxify vitamin A
Omnivore – Can detoxify vitamin A
Human – Cannot detoxify vitamin A
KIDNEY
Carnivore – Extremely concentrated urine
Herbivore – Moderately concentrated urine
Omnivore – Extremely concentrated urine
Human – Moderately concentrated urine
NAILS
Carnivore – Sharp claws
Herbivore – Flattened nails or blunt hooves
Omnivore – Sharp claws
Human – Flattened nails