66 THE ALLIGATOR'S LIFE HISTORY 



CHAPTER V 

 TEETH 



Alligators are provided with large, strong teeth, 

 deeply set in both lower and upper jaw. There are thirty- 

 eight to forty in the upper jaw and the same number in the 

 lower jaw. The forward teeth in both jaws are pointed 

 and set in individual sockets, these are used for catching and 

 holding their food. The rear teeth in both jaws are blunt 

 and conical, set in grooves in the jaws, and are used for 

 crushing food that cannot be swallowed whole. Several 

 teeth of the lower jaw back of the ninth tooth on each side 

 are slanted backward to facilitate getting bulky food in 

 proper position for being swallowed. The teeth are with- 

 out roots, and in immature individuals the tips only are 

 shed. As the reptile grows, that portion of the teeth which 

 is inside the bone part of the jaw is absorbed. The caps of 

 the new teeth forming inside and under each other and grow 

 up inside the old teeth to take place of the old teeth as they 

 become obsolete. 



In the photograph of the teeth, opposite page 66, all 

 taken from a fifteen foot alligator, reading from left to 

 right : 



No. 1, is the left ninth from front upper tooth fully 

 growing, showing in the arched opening in its base the tips 

 of a new tooth developing. 



No. 2, is the right ninth from front upper tooth, show- 

 ing by its frayed lower edges and its rough outside that it 

 has begun to be absorbed to give place to. 



No. 3, the new right ninth from front upper tooth al- 

 ready one-third developed growing from under and in- 

 side it. 



No. 6, is the tenth tooth from upper right jaw fully de- 

 veloped, with tip of new tooth showing inside and in 

 arched opening at base. 



