Most people belike do n’t think fish have tooth and consider it a rarity confined to certain mintage . The image of piranhas attacking their hapless quarry comes to mind . However , you might be surprised to learn that all species of fish have some type of teeth .

All Fish Have Teeth

All fresh- and saltwaterfish have tooth , although the structure and location of their teeth will vary depending ona species ' diet .

Carnivorous Fish Teeth

Carnivorous fish depend on take in protein by eating other coinage of Pisces the Fishes , insects , and other bouncy animals to make it . Because of this , they have tooth that wait like what we would carry of tooth .

Herbivorous Fish Teeth

Fish that feed on plant and alga have teeth that are plan for abridge into vegetation and breaking it down . These fish rely on incisors which can either be " individual " like a human being ’s or melded together as almost one unit , like a doll ’s beak .

Fish Teeth Anatomy

The grounds people usually do n’t think of a fish stimulate teeth is that it ’s not as comfortable to see them , depending on the species , based on where they are locate in the figure of a fish ’s oral cavity . A Pisces ’s teeth can be found in the " expected " position , such as inside the lips or along their jaws . Some Pisces species have their tooth on their natural language or in their pharynx , which are acknowledge as pharyngeal tooth .

Common Pet Fish and Teeth

Since all fish have teeth , this means your Pisces blithely swimming in tanks in your house all have a set of choppers .

Large Carnivorous Fish Keeping

You may not have to worry about a bite from commonly kept pet fish that are small . With declamatory fish , such as piranhas , you will need to be more careful , as their tooth are subject of inflicting damage . As you could see in the video below , piranha dentition can draw blood and are not a strain of Pisces for beginner deary lovers .

Are Fish Teeth Like Human Teeth?

A fish ’s teeth are theorized to have explicate over metre fromscales on the backtalk . These scale evolve into tooth based on thespecies ' home ground and dieting . A Pisces ’s teeth are like a human ’s in that :

Fish and human tooth are unlike in that :

Dental Care for Your Fish

For most commonly keep Pisces coinage , there is nothing you may do to help them with dental care , other than check that you ’re flow them a specie - appropriate diet . Some Pisces with " beaks " do need casual teeth trimming , such as sea squab .

Do Fish Have Tongues?

Just as fish have teeth , they also have tongues , though they ’re not structurally like a man ’s tongue . The " basihyal " is a bonethat is take the equivalent of a tongue because it ’s on the bottom of the fish ’s mouth . However , unlike in human tongues , a fish ’s " spit " does not let in taste buds and does n’t perform the same function . The basihyal ’s main aim looks like prevent food from go into the adaxial aorta .

Your Pet Fish’s Teeth

All fish have teeth of one type or another , so learningyour goldfishhas them should n’t be a business organization . If you decide to keep larger , carnivorous fish , consult with your aquarium storage specializer for tips on how to handle them without getting clip .

Piranha fish

Close up of cardiform and pharyngeal teeth

Close up of mackerel teeth

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