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A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. In many animals, the structure is called a muzzle , [ 1 ] rostrum , beak or proboscis . The wet furless surface around the nostrils of the nose of many mammals is called the rhinarium (colloquially this is the "cold wet snout" of some mammals).
The rhinarium (Neo-Latin, "belonging to the nose"; pl.: rhinaria) [1] is the furless skin surface surrounding the external openings of the nostrils in many mammals.Commonly it is referred to as the tip of the snout, and breeders of cats and dogs sometimes use the term nose leather.
Their form in living species is highly variable, depending on the shape of the head, but they generally form the roof of the snout or beak, running from the nostrils to a position short of the orbits. In most animals, they are generally therefore proportionally larger than in humans or great apes, because of the shortened faces of the latter.
The human nose is the first organ of the respiratory system. It is also the principal organ in the olfactory system. The shape of the nose is determined by the nasal bones and the nasal cartilages, including the nasal septum, which separates the nostrils and divides the nasal cavity into two. The nose has an important function in breathing.
The term derives from Latin nasus for "nose" and labium for "lip". Other people suggest the term melolabial fold , [ clarification needed ] [ 4 ] or the lip-cheek fold or groove. [ 5 ] It is also known as the nasolabial sulcus .
The beak or snout of a vertebrate may also be referred to as the rostrum. Some cetaceans, including toothed whales such as dolphins [7] [8] and beaked whales, have rostrums (beaks) which evolved from their jawbones. The narwhal possesses a large rostrum (tusk) which evolved from a protruding canine tooth.
Pores are concentrated in the skin around the snout and mouth of sharks and rays, as well as the anterior nasal flap, barbel, circumnarial fold and lower labial furrow. [10] Canal size typically corresponds to the body size of the animal but the number of ampullae remains the same. The canals of the ampullae of Lorenzini can be pored or non-pored.
They are similar in form and habits to other chimaeras, but have an exceptionally long conical or paddle-shaped snout. [2] The snout has numerous sensory nerve endings, and is used to find food such as small fish. [3] The first dorsal fin includes a mildly venomous spine, used in defense. [4]