Morphological specializations of the teeth of red sea fish in relation to feeding habit

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The studied are explored the morphology and ultrastructure the shape variation of both jaws and pharyngeal teeth of four red sea fishes with different feeding habits. The teeth were investigated by light microscope and scanning electron microscopy to determine the surface teeth structure. Five adult live specimens of each type of fish are collected from the red sea at Hurghada. They are Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870, feed primarily on the fish (piscivorous); Scarus frenatus Lacepede,1802 feed primarily on algae; Cephalopholis oligosticta Randall and Ben-Tuvia,1982, feeding mainly on fish and crustaceans. Lethrinus mahsena, Forsskal,1775, the bulk of its food primarily consists of crabs, sea urchins, echinoderms and crustaceans. The study clarified that the teeth of the four species are different in their shape morphologically and ultrastructurally. The differences may be considered as adaptive modifications primarily related to the food preferences.

Comparative anatomy study of teeth types in Barracauda and Tilapia fish

“…3 -5). The previous description agrees with (Justin et al, 2008;Aljalaud et al, 2017). This variation in teeth is somewhat similar to the description of Scyliorhinus canicula teeth (Debiais-Thiboud et al, 2015).…”

“…The teeth of tilapia include both the sharp teeth of the jaws and teeth of the throat or pharyngeal teeth. Teeth in the pharynx are frequently associated with jaw teeth, which are situated immediately anterior to the esophagus Pharyngeal teeth and jaws in some species are involved in the processing of food, whereby it is masticated and crushed before being transported to the esophagus for swallowing (Aljalaud et al, 2017).…”

Macro‐ and micro‐morphological comparison of the detailed structure of the oral cavity roof in two different feeding habits marine fishes: Pagrus pagrus and Boops boops

“…It can range from one to six pads, as in Lethrinus mahsena ( Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger ). They resemble the triangular shapes of Cephalopholis oligosticta or the rectangular shapes of parrotfish, oval, or circular form ( Lethrinus mahsena ) (Aljalaud et al, 2017). Bagrus bayad had a taste bud type II observed between the upper pharyngeal teeth (Alsafy et al, 2018).…”

Micro-morphological characteristics of the oropharyngeal cavity floor of bogue (Boops boops) (Linnaeus, 1758) fish: gross morphology, light, and scanning electron microscopic imaging

“…The adaptation of fishes to their environment is due to their feeding ability and the oropharyngeal cavity, especially the tongue, which plays a significant role. The morphology of the oropharyngeal cavity in fish has been the subject of numerous research (Abbate et al 2006(Abbate et al , 2017(Abbate et al , 2011(Abbate et al , 2012Alsafy et al 2022Alsafy et al , 2018El Bakary 2014;Elgendy et al 2016;Gamal et al 2012;Guerrera et al 2015;Levanti et al 2017;Mahmoud et al 2016;Sayed et al 2019;Yashpal et al 2006Yashpal et al , 2009; and teeth morphology (Aljalaud et al 2017;Alsafy et al 2021;Germain and Meunier 2020).…”