450 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THE PHARYNGEAL TEETH OF FISHES. 

 By Colonel C. E. Shepherd (Indian Army). 



(Continued from p. 141.) 



The Sparidcs (Sea-Breams), and the LahridcB (Wrasses), 

 beyond belonging to the Perciformes division of the suborder 

 Acanthopterygii, or spiny-finned fishes in the order Teleostean 

 fishes, have very little in common, except that many members 

 of each of these families feed largely on MoUusca. It is inte- 

 resting, then, to compare the way that their dentition, especially 

 that of their pharyngeal teeth, has been arranged to meet the 

 case of such very hard feeding. The Sparidcs get over the 

 difficulty by strong crushing molar-like teeth being provided in 

 the forward part of the jaws (see the teeth of Pagrus auratus, 

 figs. 2 and 3). Crushed on entering the mouth, the ordinary 

 shaped pharyngeal teeth can deal with the food as it passes 

 on to the cesophagus. The Labridce have not this crushing 

 power in the forward part of their jaws, but are provided with 

 strong pharyngeal teeth, well adapted to the work they have to 

 perform, as will be detailed later on. 



SPARID^. (THE SEA-BREAMS.) 

 Pagrus auratus. The Gilthead. Fig. 1 (p. 451). 

 There are seven gill-rakers on the first branchial arch from 

 the angle forward and seven up its epibranchial ; they are 

 roughened on the inner side. The inner aspect of the first arch, 

 both sides of the other arches except the fifth, bear tubercles 

 which have a roughened surface. The upper pharyngeals have 

 strong cardiform teeth, the points showing as white flecks ; this 

 is even apparent in the illustration (fig. 1). The plates of teeth 

 do not show any distinct division, although this can be traced by 

 a row of strong teeth along it. Strong cardiform teeth are visible 

 amongst the lower pharyngeal teeth. The lower jaw (fig. 2) and 

 the upper jaw (fig. 3) of this fish are figured to show the strong 



