Short Communication

Tooth replacement of tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus from the Kruger National Park

C.L. Gagiano, G.J. Steyn, H.H. du Preez
Koedoe | Vol 39, No 1 | a288 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v39i1.288 | © 1996 C.L. Gagiano, G.J. Steyn, H.H. du Preez | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 August 1996 | Published: 06 August 1996

About the author(s)

C.L. Gagiano, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa
G.J. Steyn, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa
H.H. du Preez, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa

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Abstract

Evidence of tooth replacement was observed in 14 tigerfish which had been caught during the period 1991 - 1993 in the Olifants and Letaba rivers in the Kruger National Park. Replacement of teeth is a quick process (3-5 days) and first replacement of adult coni- cal dentition takes place at six to seven months post hatch, at a body length of 100 mm (FL). Swollen gums are evident prior to tooth replacement and newly erupted teeth are loosely embedded in the gums. Tooth replacement occurs in both the upper and lower jaws simultaneously. It was observed in the laboratory that the feeding behaviour was affected when adult conical dentition was replaced in @ 287 mm (FL) specimens.

Keywords

tooth replacement, tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus, Kruger National Park, South Africa

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