The strange fish has up to 555 teeth, losing 20 each day

This fish is 50 cm long when mature, however the largest recorded size in the Pacific ling is 1.5 m.

This fish has one of the scariest mouths in the world with 555 razor-sharp teeth. The special thing is that they keep their sharp teeth by losing them and then growing dozens of them the same day.

Instead of the mechanism of incisors, molars and fangs, the jaws of these fish have hundreds of sharp, microscopic teeth. In addition, behind the first set of jaws there is a set of secondary jaws that also have hundreds of sharp teeth that they use to chew food, the same way humans use molars.

Although we have known about this special fish for a long time, until now, scientists still do not understand how this fish can replace the small teeth that cover every bone surface in its mouth.

According to a study by the University of South Florida and the University of Washington, this fish appears to lose an average of about 20 teeth a day, but they grow back just as quickly.

Researchers also discovered that the process of tooth replacement in Pacific ling fish is similar to that of humans, which is predetermined, the tooth is replaced with one of the same type and does not grow larger over time.

Lesley Montoya

Update 16 March 2024