Mole Skeleton Identification

Life Science - Middle School

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Mole Bone Identification/Sorting Chart Skull Mandible (Jaw) Scapula Front Limb Pelvis Hind Limb Ribs Vertebrae Owls generally swallow their prey whole. They digest all the fleshy parts of the prey but are unable to digest the hair, fur, claws and bones. After each night’s feeding the owl regurgitates the indigestible body parts of the prey in the form of a pellet. By examining the remains within a pellet, you can determine the diet of owls as well as the diversity of available prey in an area. Use the identification chart below to identify the remains of a mole that may be found within an owl pellet. Look at the shape and size of the skull, teeth, limbs, pelvis and other body parts that you may find to identify the prey animal. Moles have a flat and broad skull with 10 upper teeth on each jaw side. They burrow underground and eat insects and other small invertebrates. The mole’s front feet are well adapted to digging. skull mandible front limbs sternum scapula ribs pelvis vertebrae hind limbs Photos of Moles; Copyright © E ducational Images Ltd., Elmira, NY, USA All right reserved - used by permission. A dissected owl pellet showing several types of animal bones. Mole Skeleton Identification www.newpathlearning.com © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4618
Mole Bone Identification/Sorting Chart Skull Mandible (Jaw) Scapula Front Limb Pelvis Hind Limb Ribs Vertebrae Owls generally swallow their prey ______________. They ______________ all the fleshy parts of the prey but are unable to digest the _____________, _____________, ______________ and ______________. After each night’s feeding the owl ____________________ the ______________ body parts of the prey in the form of a ______________. By examining the remains within a ______________, you can determine the _____________ of owls as well as the diversity of available ______________ in an area. Moles have a ______________ and ______________ skull with __________ upper teeth on each jaw side. They burrow underground and eat ______________ and other ______________ ______________. Photos of Moles; Copyright © E ducational Images Ltd., Elmira, NY, USA All right reserved - used by permission. The mole’s front feet are well adapted to digging. A dissected owl pellet showing several types of animal bones. Mole Skeleton Identification www.newpathlearning.com © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4618 \|xiBAHBDy01760ozX