Pharyngeal teeth

Pharyngeal teeth are found in most teleost species, for example, all carp -like and the cichlids. They stand on the pharyngeal bones, which are derived from gill arches (see Pharyngealia ). In cyprinids the pharyngeal teeth are on two arcuate pharyngeal bones in the cichlids on a Y- shaped bottom and two rounded upper pharyngeal bones.

Depending on the specialization on different food are shape and number of pharyngeal teeth differently. Due to their characteristic shape, number and arrangement of pharyngeal teeth can often be used to identify and distinguish different species of fish. In cyprinids, the number and position of the pharyngeal teeth per row of teeth can be retained by formulas. The pharyngeal teeth of the carp fish together like the teeth of a gear into each other and also against a tooth or horn plate (carp stone) just in front of the esophagus at the upper end of the pharyngeal arch. The loaches this horn plate is replaced by a rough surface or horn by tough mucous membranes. The cichlids are two more occupied with teeth bone towards the throat teeth.

Some fish, such as the grunts, the pharyngeal teeth also use to produce sounds. The sounds created by the pharyngeal teeth are rubbed together.

Source

• Franziska Hummel and Jörg Freyhof: Ichthyology for aquarists. Part 8: pharyngeal bones. in DATZ, 10/2004, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, ISSN 1616-3222

• Anatomy of the fish
• Tooth