engleski

Forming new collection of pharyngeal teeth from Cyprinid fishes collected in Croatia and neighboring countries

The fish order Cypriniformes is one of the most diverse ray-finned fish groups in the world with more than 3, 000 recognized species. Cypriniformes are characterized by a striking distribution of their dentition, namely the absence of oral teeth and presence of pharyngeal teeth on the last gill arch (fifth ceratobranchial). These teeth assist in transport of food that, in these fishes, is the main function of the pharyngeal apparatus, accomplished mainly by anteroposterior movements of the lower pharyngeal jaws. Length, shape, number, and especially the number of rows of pharyngeal teeth in cyprinids is of great importance for distinguishing genera and species. The collection of pharyngeal teeth was donated by the Croatian Natural History Museum. Fish specimens were collected between the years 1979 and 1986, on 32 different locations in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia and Hercegovina. So far, pharyngeal teeth of 31 species from 107 individuals were collected. Among the collected specimens there were seven species that are endemic for Danube basin and Adriatic basin: Telestes ukliva, Squalius tenellus, Telestes polylepis, Squalius svallize, Rutilus pigus virgo, Chondrostoma phoxinus and Telestes croaticus.. The aim of the research was to present the collection to the wider scientific community and make it available to scientists and students of veterinary medicine who are interested in the anatomy and morphology of fish. Pharyngeal teeth can be used in courses for comparative anatomy and fish morphology as well as for archaeozoology.

pharyngeal teeth, Cypriniformes, collection, endemic species

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