Since centuries, goldfish have intrigued humans. Goldfish are often admired for their looks and behavior, but have you wondered whether they have teeth? The truth is that goldfish actually have an unusual dental structure. However, it’s different from what you may expect. We’ll look does goldfish have teeth and see what makes it unique.
Goldfish Dental Anatomy:
There are teeth on goldfish, but not those sharp, enameled ones you might associate with predators. These fish are part of a group called cyprinids that includes carp, Koi and many other species. The pharyngeal teeth of these fish are specialized.
These teeth have a special purpose. Pharyngeal or throat teeth: They are found in the pharynx (throat) and not in the mouth. The teeth of the goldfish are located on two different bones: the upper pharyngeal and the lower pharyngeal.
Pharyngeal teeth function:
These teeth are not used to catch or chew their prey. Instead, they help the goldfish digest food. The specialized goldfish teeth have a vital role to play in breaking down and processing food before it enters its digestive system.
The Pharyngeal Teeth:
Goldfish eat food by first entering the mouth, where it is crushed in part by flat pads at the base and roof of mouth. Food is then passed on to pharyngeal or throat teeth. The process is as follows:
Pharyngeal Jaw Movement Goldfish are unique in that they have an “unique mechanism” called the “pharyngeal jaw movement.” It involves the coordination of upper and low pharyngeal tooth movements and their associated bones. The pharyngeal tooth moves forward as the goldfish takes food in order to grab, crush and grind it.
Food Degradation: Pharyngeal Teeth work in concert to reduce plant material and food products into smaller, easier-to-digest particles. It is important to extract nutrients from the plant’s cell walls, and facilitate digestion.
When food is swallowed, it continues to travel through the digestive system of the goldfish after being processed adequately by the pharyngeal molars.
Adaptations of the pharyngeal teeth
Different species of goldfish and cyprinids can display different variations in the shape and placement of their pharyngeal (or palatal) teeth. These adaptations are sometimes due to the diet of each species. As goldfish are primarily herbivorous they have flattened pharyngeal surfaces that allow them to effectively grind up plant matter.
Maintenance and health:
Goldfish’s pharyngeal (or gullet) teeth are vital in the digestion and processing of their food. Assuring your goldfish has a diet rich in plant-based products, including high-quality fish flakes and pellets, will help support the pharyngeal tooth function.
Goldfish tooth facts
Find out some fascinating facts about goldfish.
As with many species of fish, the goldfish’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. It is important to grow the pharyngeal and palatine teeth because they can be worn down by constant food grinding.
Goldfish lack visible teeth: Their dental structures cannot be seen because they do not show external teeth.
Diverse diet: Goldfish have an herbivorous lifestyle, but they will occasionally eat invertebrates. They can use their pharyngeal incisors to eat a variety of plants, and sometimes animals.
The conclusion:
Although goldfish do not possess the sharp teeth that you would expect in a predatory fish, their pharyngeal (or pharyngeal) teeth have been adapted to suit their herbivorous eating habits. The specialized structure allows goldfish to digest and process plant material efficiently. While goldfish are not teeth in the conventional sense, they do have pharyngeal (or throat) teeth that play an integral role in their digestion.