👉 A bite weapon, also known as a hominin jaw claw or carnassial shearing blade, is a specialized dental adaptation found in certain early human ancestors and other primates. These structures are located at the back of the jaw, where the incisors and canines meet, and they function primarily for shearing meat. Unlike incisors used for cutting or grasping, and canines used for tearing flesh, bite weapons are designed to efficiently process tough animal tissues by slicing through muscle and connective tissue. This adaptation is particularly significant in species like Australopithecus, where it suggests a diet heavily reliant on meat and possibly a more omnivorous lifestyle compared to their predecessors.
