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THE PHARYNGEAL TEETH OF FISHES. 

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



(Concluded from p. 73.) 

 LOPHIID^. 



Lophius budegasa, a Mediterranean fish of the "Angler" 

 description. The upper pharyngeal teeth show as three rows of 

 strong cardiform teeth, the two upper rows being larger than the 

 lowest and third row. The lower pharyngeal teeth are in two 

 elongated groups, each forming a V, the point of which is towards 

 the tongue ; there are prominent upstanding cardiform teeth 

 marking each line of the V, and there is a broad space between 

 the V's in the middle line ; the apices of the V's converge towards 

 the front of the mouth (fig. II. 3, p. 71). 



Lophius piscatorius, the Angler or "Fishing Frog," found on 

 the English coast, has its upper pharyngeal teeth likewise in 

 three rows. The top row, on the head of the second epibranchial, 

 has strong cardiform teeth, the second row, on the head of the 

 third epibranchial, has still stronger teeth, and the third row, 

 on the head of the fourth epibranchial, is of smaller teeth : all, 

 however, being cardiform. The lower pharyngeal teeth are 

 similar to those described for L. budegasa. 



MOLID^. 



Orthagoriscus mola (the Sunfish), has the upper pharyngeal 

 teeth in three rows each side of long, slender, but imposing- 

 looking cardiform teeth. A specimen can be seen in the annexe, 

 off the Central Hall, devoted to details of the anatomy of fishes, 

 at the British Museum of Natural History. 



Paradoxical as it may appear, the subject of the pharyngeal 

 teeth of fishes would not seem to be completely dealt with without 

 some mention of those families of fishes which are devoid of such 

 teeth. 



