Book 5, Question 11
Chomp! Why Did Meat-Eating Dinosaurs Have Sharp Teeth?
Meat-eating dinosaurs had teeth shaped for biting and tearing flesh. Some teeth were pointed, and some had tiny ridges along the edge, a bit like a steak knife. A tooth can tell scientists a lot about what an animal ate.
More fun facts
- Meat-eating dinosaur teeth were usually wide at the root and tapered to a sharp point.
- Their tooth shapes differed a bit depending on what they ate.
- Like all toothy dinosaurs, meat-eaters grew new teeth all their lives.
- New teeth grew in the jaw and pushed old or broken ones out of the way.
- Some meat-eating dinosaurs replaced their teeth several times a year.
- Animals with sharp, pointy teeth are usually meat-eaters, while flat teeth are a sign of a plant-eater.
Sources: National Park Service, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Did dinosaurs lose their teeth?
Yes, often. But new teeth kept growing in to replace them all their lives.