This post was last updated on February 11th, 2023 at 04:21 pm
Yes. Trout do, in fact, have teeth. Large trout are strong enough and have large enough teeth to draw blood. They also use them to catch and kill smaller fish. Smaller trout also have teeth, but in many cases, they aren’t large enough to cause damage.
If you land a nice catch, take a second to find those pliers before sticking your finger in their mouth. This article discusses if trout have teeth. Read on to learn more about trout teeth and some cool facts.
More About Trout Teeth
Trout have teeth on the roof of their mouth called vomerine teeth. These teeth are used to hold and move food down the throat, slightly differrent than your typical chewing and swallowing. A simple way to decipher between Salmon and Trout is the number of vomerine teeth. Salmon have a single row versus Trout which have two rows.
Furthermore, trout do not chew. Instead they have a unique method for both holding and moving food down the throat. Vomerine teeth do not have roots like our own teeth do, but grow continuously to compensate for loss of teeth due to feeding damage or old age. Trout do not need their dentition in order to eat and survive, unlike humans who do. A trout can live a full life without any of its teeth at all, using suction to hold and move food along the throat. In fact, it is possible for a fish to lose all of its teeth and still do well in the wild. Many species do not have any teeth at all.
Can trout bite you?
Yes. Big trout do have big teeth, and it is possible for a large one to bite you. The smaller trout also have teeth but they’re often too small to actually hurt you. With that said, they will still try to bite you.
Trout do not necessarily bite your finger on purpose. They might do it in an attempt to defend themselves. If you grab the fish while it is still alive, especially if it is a bigger trout, then that could trigger a defense mechanism. The same is true if you do not handle it the correct way.
Are trout teeth sharp?
Yes. Trout do have sharp teeth. A big trout is more than capabale of drawing blood. Here’s a picture of how sharp trout teeth are.
Can you hold trout by the mouth?
It is possible to do this, however, you do need to be careful due to their teeth. You may be better off using the gills or using a tool.
Do all trout have teeth?
Yes! All trout species have teeth, some a bit different than others. Check out these articles to learn more about each fish.
In Conclusion – Do Trout Have Teeth?
Trout do have teeth. Large trout are strong enough and have large enough teeth to draw blood. Smaller trout also have teeth, but in many cases they aren’t large enough to cause damage. If you land a nice catch, take an extra moment to find those pliers before sticking your finger into their mouth (ouch!). So be sure that when handling your next big trout, do it with care, and always use caution when holding them by the mouth!
Hopefully this article answers your questions about do trout have teeth. Happy fishing!