pharyngeal jaws
Inner mouth set
Pharyngeal jaws are a second set of jaws located in the throat of certain fish, most notably moray eels and cichlids.
While the oral jaws capture prey, the pharyngeal jaws thrust forward to grip food and pull it down into the esophagus—functioning like a second mouth deeper in the throat.
This adaptation allows fish to process prey that would otherwise be difficult to swallow.
- moray eelsSerpentine marine fish
- cichlidsSpiny-finned freshwater fish family
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- masticationTeeth-based food breakdown
dentition · convergent evolution · bony fish · musculature · mollusc · cartilage · digestive tract · esophagus · suction · filter feeding · snail · grinding · jawless fish · bone · throat · oral · shell · bite