DENTITION :.

Summary:

Both jaws bear narrow bands of villiform teeth, outside of which is a single series of enlarged teeth. The upper jaw has 4 rather small canines in front, 2 of which are larger, and none of them are visible when mouth is closed. The lower jaw has a band of villiform teeth in front only, with the single row of larger teeth nearly equal in size, and none of them developed into canines. There are no molar teeth on either jaw. The vomer bears a /\ or /|\-shaped patch of villiform teeth, with the median backward prolongation very slight or absent. The palatines also bear villiform teeth, and there is a single oval patch of villiform teeth on the tongue in adults. No teeth are present on the pterygoids or ectopterygoids.
Literature :

References to Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758): Jordan and Evermann 1898: Page 1248 (as Neomaenis synagris) (key ) - "Vomerine patch of teeth /|\-shaped, or /\-shaped, not diamond shaped."; Page 1250 (key ) - "...upper canines moderate, lower small or obsolete..."; Page 1251 (key ) - Vomerine teeth in a /\ or /|\-shaped patch, the prolongation on median line very short or wanting." Page 1270 (text ) - "...upper jaw with a narrow band of villiform teeth, outside of which is a single series of enlarged teeth; 4 rather small canines in front, 2 of them larger; lower jaw with villiform band in front only, the single row of larger teeth nearly equal in size, none of them canines; tongue with a single oval patch, its length more than twice its width; vomer with a /\ or /|\-shaped patch of teeth, without backward prolongation on median line, or with only a very slight one." Boschung et al. 1983: Page 607 ( text ) - "...canine teeth not visible when mouth closed." Allen 1985: Page 119 (text ) - "...canine teeth in both jaws moderately developed and about equal in size; vomerine tooth patch V-shaped or cresentic, sometimes with a relatively short medial posterior extension."

References to genus Lutjanus: Jordan and Evermann 1898: Page 1247 (as genus Neomaenis Girard, 1859 ) - "...the jaws with bands of villiform teeth, besides which is usually an outer series of larger teeth in each jaw, and 2 to 4 stronger teeth or canines in front of upper jaw; vomer with villiform teeth; villiform teeth on the palatines; usually one or more patches of teeth on the tongue in the adult; no molar teeth; no teeth on pterygoids..." Allen 1985: Page 13 (key ) - "Anterior part of roof of mouth "vomer " with a patch of small teeth..., usually crescentic, V-shaped, triangular, anchor-shaped, or diamond-shaped..." "Teeth in jaws more elongate, villiform to caniniform; vomerine teeth numerous and villiform..." Page 14 (key ) - "...ectopterygoid bones ...toothless..." "...some fang-like canines usually present at front of jaws..." Page 33 (text ) - "...pointed, conical teeth in jaws arranged in one or more rows, with an outer series of canine teeth, some of which, particularly those at front of jaws, are generally enlarged and fang-like; vomerine tooth patch V-shaped or crescentic to triangular, with or without a medial posterior extension, or diamond-shaped..."

References to subfamily Lutjaninae: Allen 1985: Page 3 (text ) - "...teeth present n the vomer, and without filamentous soft dorsal or anal rays.

References to family Lutjanidae: Boschung et al. 1983: Page 603 (text ) - "The teeth are conical and sharp, and never molarlike, and there are teeth in the roof of the mouth." Eschmeyer and Herald 1983: Page 215 (text ) - "Jaw teeth sharp, conical, usually in few rows; no molars." Masuda et al. 1991: Page 166 (text ) - "...canines on anterior part of both jaws, but only conical teeth in Caesio." Robins and Ray 1986: Page 167 (text ) - "...1-2 enlarged canines near front of jaws on either side..." Plate 31 (caption ) - "2 large canines at front of upper jaw." Moyle and Cech 1988: Page 293 (text ) - "...equipped with many teeth, usually including some large canine teeth.".