What are ways I could design a viable split jaw?

At the minimum, I'd like to create a creature with a jaw structure that splits into 4 moving parts (like a +-shape or an x-shape). In order to keep food in, the cross sections will have stretchy flaps of webbing attaching them. A requirement for the 'mandibles'/jaw-sections is that they can move independently of one another, with beak like dexterity.

One earth creature that has a jaw analogous to what I'm trying to capture is a python. Their lower jaws are not rigidly attached to the skull, the lower jaw is split (but still held together by a stretchy ligament), and the jaw sections can move independently in order to 'shimmy'/push prey into their esophagus.

The creature I'm designing would be blind, and since it is alien, the brain does not have to be housed in the 'head'. The creature will look a lot like an ant eater, and it swallows it's food whole. I'm just not sure what the skull would look like. The best I can imagine is the mouth is not actually attached to a real skull, rather it's like a shark in that the jaw is isolated from the brain case.

posted about 7 years ago

Tardigreat‭

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