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last
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1/11/09
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BIO109
Online
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OWL
PELLET LAB
Key to Skulls found in Owl Pellets
Find all upper and lower skulls in your owl pellet, and then use the following key to identify the types of prey.
| Skull Characteristic: choose either a or b | Prey type or go to question # |
| 1a. Skull does not have teeth |
Bird (Aves) |
| 1b. Skull has teeth | Mammalia -- Go to 2 |
| 2a. Skull does not have a space between incisors and other teeth (diastema)(Fig. 1) | Go to 3 |
| 2b. Skull has a diastema (a space between incisors and other teeth) | Go to 4 (skip3) |
| 3a. Skull does not have a zygomatic arch (Fig. 1); teeth reddish brown at tips | Shrew (Family Soricidae) |
| 3b. Skull has a zygomatic arch; teeth white | Mole (Family Talpidae) |
| 4a. Cheek teeth are angled (see Fig. 2) | Go to 5 |
| 4b. Cheek teeth are lobed | Go to 6 |
| 5a. Mandible length (see Fig. 3) 15-20 mm | Vole (Subfamily Microtinae) |
| 5b. Mandible length 25-35 mm | Pocket Gopher (Family Geomyidae) |
| 6a. Mandible length (see Fig. 3) 10-16 mm | Deer Mouse (Subfamily Cricetinae) |
| 6b. Mandible length 17-30 mm | Rat (Genus Rattus) |
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| Figure 1. Side view of upper skull. | Figure 2. Chewing surface of cheek teeth. | Figure 3. Side view of lower jaw. |
Jump to Lab Manual, Owl Pellet Lab, Data Sheet and Questions (html / word)