Taxonomy of Finfish

2.1.5.4 Teeth

Teeth are borne on the jaws and palate. All fishes may not have teeth. Many as Chanos chanos (Milk fish), Cyprinids are without teeth (called edendate). Siluroids have sharp teeth. The teeth when present are mostly villiform (sharp) (Fig. 15 A), conical (Fig. 15 C), molariform (Fig. 15B Rita species), canine (Pseud apocryptes Goby). In Puffer fish (Tetraodon species) the teeth are formed like a beak-like dental plate. In most fishes the teeth on the lower jaw are in the form of a narrow or wide band, separated in the middle where as on the upper jaw it is uninterrupted and continuous. On the palate they may be in patches, discontinuous or continuous or as a single broad band. The band is nearly curved and may extend deep into the corner of the mouth. The teeth are essentially meant for crushing, scraping the food that the fish takes and accordingly they are modified.

Fig. 15. Teeth. A. Villiform. B. Molariform (Rita). C. Conical (Gobies).