Morphological Study of lingual teeth of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

摘要

Lingual teeth in largemouth bass were observed histologically and morphologically. Each lingual tooth was a weak-curved conical tooth, and had cap structure on the tip. The tooth had homogeneous dentin, and had dental pulp in the center of the tooth. Some or scores of teeth were gathered and formed the assembly of lingual teeth on the narrow part of basihyal. The mode of lingual tooth attachment was hinged attachment, its basal dentin had connected with pedicle on the basihyal by fiber. In the relation of standard length and the number of lingual tooth in juvenile from lake Biwa, the number of the teeth changed greatly at 4.0 cm S.L. Compare the fish from lake Kasumigaura with that from lake Ashinoko, the former was twice as high as the latter inthe number of lingual teeth and the percentage of fish with the teeth. In addition to exist the fish without lingual teeth, because the number of the teeth change with growth of juvenile, the teeth were suggested auxiliary organ for feeding in juvenile period.