In the Serrani, or Sea-perches, the dentition begins to assume a
more carnivorous character, and long, sharp-pointed, conical teeth
are intermixed with the teeth ‘ en brosse,’ which are arranged in
hands more or less broad on the intermaxillary and premandibular
bones. In the Serranus Scriba, the two or three laniary teeth
near the middle line are most developed. The palatines and pharyngeal
bones are armed simply with villous teeth | these are arranged
in the form of a chevron on the vomer; the tongue is edentulous.
The Plectropromes, Mesoprions and Cirrhites have the same type
of dentition as that of the Sea-perches.. The larger conical teeth are
also superadded to the villiform teeth of the jaws in some species of
the genus Sillago.
In the genus Trichodon, the villiform teeth are more elongated
than usual, slightly recurved; and those of the exterior rows have
more a horny than a bony consistence, whence the name of the
species (Trachinus trichodon) which Cuvier has made the type of a
genus.
In the genus Myripristis, there are very fine villiform teeth on
the palatines, vomer, and jaw-bones; but in front of the latter, there
are five or six of larger size, but of an obtuse conical shape. The
tongue is smooth, but the branchial arches and pharyngeal bones are
armed with villiform teeth.
The beautiful Holocentra and the large-eyed Beryx have simply
villiform teeth on the same localities as the Myripristis. The weevers
{Trachinus), have also the pterygoid bones similarly armed. In the
Percis, a row of larger unciform teeth are placed in front of the villiform
teeth of the jaws ; the palatine and lingual bones are edentulous.
In the Percophis, there are five long, recurved, sharp-pointed
teeth in each intermaxillary; and a greater number of similar teeth in
the lower jaw, besides the teeth ‘ en velours.’ The palatine, as well as
the vomer, are armed with villiform teeth.
COTTOIDS.
35. In the Cottoid or mailed-cheeked fishes, {Joues cuirassees of
Cuvier), the only teeth which maintain a constant character are those
of the pharyngeal bones, which are always villiform. In the common
Gurnards {Triglte Lyra and Gurnardus), and the Bullhead, {Cottus
Gobio) the maxillary, vomerine and branchial teeth are of the same
kind ; the tongue and palatine bones are edentulous. In the Cottus
scorpius, or Father-lasher, the teeth are a little more strongly developed.
In the Cottus grunniens these larger teeth are continued from the vomer
upon the palatine arches ; while those of the jaws are villiform. In
the Stickle-backs (Gasterosteus), similar teeth are arranged in a narrow
band along the intermaxillary and premandibular bones | but the
palatines, vomer, and tongue are edentulous. In the Flying Gurnard,
{Dactylopterus), the teeth are likewise limited to the jaws, but they are
obtuse and form a little pavement of four or five rows, which grow
narrower towards the angles of the mouth : the pharyngeal bones
preserve their typical character ; and in the mailed Gurnards, {Periste-
dion), they are the only bones of the buccal cavity which support teeth.
SPAROIDS.
36. In the Bream-tribe of Fishes, the teeth are restricted to the
intermaxillary, premandibular and pharyngeal bones, but are remarkable
for their variety of form, and frequently for their large size.
Dentex.— Few fishes are armed with a more formidable apparatus,
or one better adapted for the seizure and destruction of a living prey,
than are those which belong to the genus of Sea-bream(l) called Dentex
by Cuvier. This name was, in fact, applied to a Mediterranean species
of bream by the Latins, on account of its large pointed teeth,
which project from the fore-part of the mouth.
With the exception of a pavement of minute rounded teeth, which
defends the inner side of the alveolar wall of the jaws, all the teeth of
the Dentices are conical, sharp-pointed, and slightly recurved, corresponding
in shape with the laniaries or canine teeth in the mammalia.
They are limited to the intermaxillary and premandibular bones, and
form a single row on each side of each jaw. In some species, as the
Dentex multidens, the laniary teeth are large and of nearly equal size
all round the mouth ; but in most species, as in the one figured,
{Dentex argyrozona, PI. 41), four of these teeth in the upper, and
four in the lower jaw are produced, at the anterior part of the mouth,
(l) The River-Bream (Cyprinus Brama, L.) belongs to a different family, characterized by
toothless jaws ; see Cyprinoids.