The Web of Life Sabino Canyon  


Coyote Skull

Photograph of a coyote skull

The coyote skull is about 7 inches (18 cm) from front to back, about two inches longer than the bobcat's skull.

Notice the coyote has all kinds of teeth in its mouth. It has incisors for nipping, large canine teeth for grabbing, premolars for holding its prey, and molars for grinding as well. What kind of diet do you think the coyote has?

Its jaw is looser than that of a bobcat but not as loose as a deer's jaw.

The coyote's eyes face forward. That is called "binocular" or "stereoscopic vision". This allows the coyote good depth perception so it can tell how far away its *prey* is. Hunters like coyotes and bobcats need good depth perception. Notice also that its eye sockets are large. Why is that? When does it hunt?

Relative to the total size of its skull, do you think its brain cavity is large?

What about the length of its snout, is it long or short? Why?

To learn more about the coyote, visit the Coyote Quick Facts.


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