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Do Ducks Have Teeth?

Answer – No, ducks do not have teeth.

Explanation:

Ducks have teeth-like structures present along the edges of their bills (beaks). These comb-like filters are called lamellae (Latin for “thin plate”). These structures help them with feeding and grooming.

Ducks ingest their food without chewing. They have a specialized organ called the gizzard in their digestive system, which aids in breaking down the food into smaller fragments. The gizzard grinds against the grit and gravel that the duck consumes and reduces them into smaller pieces, thus facilitating digestion.

In addition, ducks have adapted to eating smaller prey, such as insects, small fish, seeds, and grains, which do not require chewing.

A close-up of a male eclipse mallard duck — Ducks have teeth-like structures called lamellae, which are used for feeding.
Image credit: Materialscientist / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)

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