Biology of Finfish and Shellfish

Feeding adaptations

1. Herbivore / Plankton feeder

• Absence of teeth; pharyngeal teeth, numerous gill rakers.
• Long and narrow alimentary canal; coiled intestine.
• Short and broad rectum.
• Absence of pyloric cecae

2. Carnivore

• Sharp, Strong teeth
• Long hard and teeth like gill rakers
• Longer and extendible oesophagus
• Short and nearly straight intestine
• Short and broader rectum
• Absence of pyloric cecae

3. Omnivore

• Mouth inferior, teeth in buccopharynx; lips and buccopharynx with mucus cells and taste buds.
• Alimentary canal moderately sized.
• Short and narrow oesophagus.
• Gill rakers short and stumpy.
• Intestine intermediate between herbivorous and carnivorous.
• Rectum short and broader, pyloric cecae absent.