Dog skull. X-ray of the skull of a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) seen from the side. The front of the skull is at right. The dog's skull is si

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Dog skull. X-ray of the skull of a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) seen from the side. The front of the skull is at right. The dog's skull is similar to that of its wolf ancestor. The bones at the top, front part of the brain case (upper centre to centre right) are elongated, increasing the range of facial expressions which can be produced. Such expressions are used for communication in the dog and in the wolf, which are both highly social. The dog is an omnivore and possesses specialised teeth, including long canines at the front corners of its mouth for cutting its food and wide carnassials (seen here overlapping at lower centre) for chewing.

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Size: 4378px × 3214px
Photo credit: © D. ROBERTS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -ray, animal, bone, bones, canid, canines, canis, carnassials, carnivore, carnivorous, dentition, dog, domestic, familiaris, head, lupus, mammal, nature, omnivore, omnivorous, pet, skeletal, skull, teeth, tooth, wildlife, xray, zoology