Which of the following animals has homodont dentition?

Analyze the question: The question asks which animal has homodont dentition, meaning all its teeth are of the same shape and type.

Concept:

• Homodont dentition: all teeth are alike (similar in shape and function). It is found in fishes, amphibians, and most reptiles, and in toothed whales and dolphins.
• Heterodont dentition: teeth are differentiated into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. It is found in most mammals.
• Edentulous (toothless): birds have no teeth.

Solution, option by option:

• A. Rat: a mammal with heterodont dentition. It has incisors and molars, with a gap (diastema) between them. ✗
• B. Man: a mammal with heterodont dentition. Humans have incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. ✗
• C. Lizard: a reptile whose teeth are all roughly the same shape, so it is homodont. ✓ (Some lizards show slight variation, but it is the standard textbook example of homodont dentition among these options.)
• D. Pigeon: a bird, so it has no teeth at all and cannot be homodont. ✗

Answer: C. Lizard

Tip: Remember "Homo = same." Fish, amphibians, and reptiles have same-type teeth. Mammals have different types (heterodont). Birds have none. When a JAMB question lists a mix of mammals, a reptile, and a bird, the reptile is usually the homodont answer.