Question

HELP ASAP 60 points total and big brain!!! Describe two differences between the teeth of the grizzly bear and the teeth of polar bears. Give possible reasons for the differences. Describe one difference in the skull and explain why this difference occurs.

Answer 1

Grizzly bears have longer canines and more developed molars and premolars compared to polar bears. Grizzly bears also have a more pronounced sagittal crest in their skull.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two differences between the teeth of grizzly bears and polar bears are:

Grizzly bears have longer canines compared to polar bears. The longer canines of grizzly bears enable them to snatch and hold onto prey effectively. In contrast, polar bears have shorter canines, which are adapted for catching and holding onto slippery seals.

Grizzly bears have more developed molars and premolars compared to polar bears. Grizzly bears feed on a variety of foods, including plant matter and meat. Their well-developed molars and premolars help them crush and grind their food. On the other hand, polar bears primarily feed on seals and have less developed molars and premolars.

One difference in the skull is that grizzly bears have a more pronounced sagittal crest compared to polar bears. The sagittal crest accommodates large temporalis jaw muscles for chewing tough plant materials. Since grizzly bears have a more varied diet that includes tough plant materials, they require stronger jaw muscles, which result in the development of a sagittal crest.

Answer 2

Grizzly bears have very large molar teeth, while polar bears have teeth that are much smaller. Polar bears eat seal blubber, which is soft and does not require much chewing, while brown bears consume many plants. A difference between the skulls is a polar bear has a flatter, lower skull, and its eye orbits are more elevated. Whereas, brown bears do not have blade incisors like the polar bear, but do have very strong molars.