Anatomical oropharyngeal cavity specialisations in the cutlassfish (<i>Trichiurus lepturus</i>, Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Trichiurus lepturus is a carnivorous fish, and most of the previous anatomical research has focused on computed tomography imaging and histology of their teeth and fangs, while the remaining structures of pharyngeal cavity remain unexplored. The present research is the first to use anatomical examinations alongside scanning electron microscopy to investigate the T. lepturus oral cavity. The oropharyngeal roof included teeth, upper lip, rostral and caudal velum and the palate. The middle of the palate showed a median groove flanked by two folds, followed by a median band flanked by micro-folds, thereafter the palate became crescent shaped. The lateral regions of the palate exhibited longitudinal folds that extended rostrally towards the fangs. The oropharyngeal floor had two cavities which acted as a scabbard for the premaxillary fangs and upper velum, while the caudal sublingual cavity contained two oyster-shaped structures on the outer surface plus sublingual ridges and sublingual clefts. The tongue apex exhibited a spoon-like shape, its body demonstrated a median elevation and the root with two lateral branches contained only dome-shaped papillae. Taste buds were located on the upper velum, lower lip and the caudal part of the interbranchial septum. Images and descriptions of T. lepturus tooth structure are also provided. The present research, using anatomical dissection and morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy, has identified the structures of the dentition system, a variety in shapes of the folds and microridges, and identified the taste buds and mucous pores in the T. lepturus oropharyngeal cavity.