The Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is a common, large coastal fish known for its distinct, high-arched back and deep body. While the answer to whether it has teeth is yes, they are not the sharp rows most people imagine. Instead of teeth lining its main jaws, the Black Drum uses a specialized internal structure to process tough food sources, allowing it to thrive on a diet other marine life cannot easily consume.
Pharyngeal Plates: The Black Drum’s Unique Dentition
The Black Drum lacks typical, cone-shaped teeth on the outer edges of its mouth. Instead, it possesses powerful crushing surfaces called pharyngeal plates, located deep within its throat. These structures are situated in the pharynx, the muscular area between the mouth cavity and the esophagus. The plates are dense, bony structures covered in numerous short, rounded, molar-like teeth that resemble a cobblestone pavement.
This specialized dentition is suited for applying immense pressure to hard objects. The upper and lower pharyngeal plates work together in a vice-like motion, compressing and grinding food that passes into the throat. The teeth feature a tough outer enameloid layer, one of the stiffest biomineralized materials found in nature. This durable surface is enhanced by elements like zinc and fluoride, which stiffen the apatite crystals, making the plates highly resistant to fracture during crushing.
A Crusher’s Diet: How Teeth Define Feeding Habits
The powerful pharyngeal plates define the Black Drum’s feeding habits, allowing it to specialize in a diet of hard-shelled invertebrates. As a bottom-feeder, the fish uses sensitive, whisker-like barbels on its lower chin to search for prey buried in the mud or sand. Once located, the food is drawn in, and the pharyngeal teeth crush the tough exterior of the prey.
This crushing ability means adult Black Drum feed primarily on mollusks, such as oysters, clams, and mussels, as well as crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. The mechanical force generated is significant; large adults are estimated to produce a bite force up to 11,000 Newtons. This capacity to destroy shells is so effective that a large Black Drum can consume more than two commercial-sized oysters per kilogram of its body weight daily. After crushing, the fish may either reject the shell fragments or pass them through its digestive system.
Identifying the Black Drum
The Black Drum is among the largest members of the Sciaenidae family, which includes Red Drum and Atlantic Croaker. They are characterized by a high, rounded back and a dark, silvery-gray body with a brassy sheen. A defining feature is the presence of several small, whisker-like barbels under the lower jaw; the genus name Pogonias translates to “bearded,” referring to these sensory organs.
Juvenile Black Drum are often confused with Sheepshead because they possess four to six dark vertical bars that fade away as the fish matures. These bottom-dwellers are commonly found in bays, estuaries, and coastal waters, often congregating around oyster reefs, docks, and bridge pilings. Their range extends along the Atlantic coast from New England through the Gulf of Mexico to Argentina.