Mouth

MOUTH 
  • It is the buccal cavity supported anteriorly by the jaws and laterally by the cheeks
  • Most of the fishes have the mouth at (terminal) or very near (subterminal) the front end of the head
  • Bottom feeders like suckers or sturgeons have subterminal or inferior mouths
  • Superior mouths are found in the lie-n-wait predators (Eg. grouper, lion fish). They capture food from the surface. They lie and wait to catch prey passing overhead.
  • Butterfly and pipe fishes have small mouths at the end of a thin snout, an arrangement that is useful in removing food items from crevices.
  • Slipmouths (Leognathids) are capable of protruding the mouth to an exceptional distance to siphon in prey.
  • In half beaks (surface feeding fishes), lower jaw projects into a beak with the mouth opening above it.

Last modified: Sunday, 18 September 2011, 4:38 AM