Pharyngeal Teeth

teeth located on the gills of bonefish. The lower pharyngeal teeth develop only on the fifth gill arch, which corresponds to the ceratobranchiale (the upper element of the lower half of the arch) of other arches. Upper pharyngeal teeth usually develop on upper elements (pharyngobranchialia) growing between the second, third, and fourth gill arches. The pharyngeal teeth retain food and in many cases also reduce it, by crushing or grinding. In the course of a fish’s life these teeth are replaced several times. The number, form, and position of the teeth varies in different fish, and these variations are an important feature in determining the species of fish.