Edaphodont

/ɛˈdæfoʊdɑːnt/ adjective

Definition

Having teeth adapted for grinding or consuming soil-dwelling organisms.

Etymology

From Greek edaphos (soil) + odont- (tooth). The compound describes specialized dental structures in animals that eat organisms found in soil.

Kelly Says

Some burrowing animals have evolved specialized teeth specifically for grinding up the insects and worms they encounter while tunneling through soil—these are the edaphodonts of the animal world!

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