Snrub and Dave, I have doubts about my photography skills and being able to properly dissect the pharyngeal teeth of a RES, so...see fig 8.
Cranial osteology of the redear sunfish: examples from the American Midwest The superior and the inferior pharyngeals of the redear were found to be far more massive than those of the pumpkinseed (a distinction not made by early ichthyologists). The lower pharyngeal of the redear (Figure 2) is triangular and blocky (more so than that of the pumpkinseed), with a deep sulcus running along its lateral surface.
Fig. 2 Left inferior (lower) pharyngeal arch of redear sunfish. Views are from above and of medial surface.
The bony projection at the posterior end angles abruptly in the redear, but more gradually in the pumpkinseed. The blunt teeth vary from rounded to paved (flattened) in the redear, contrasting with the more or less pointed or conical teeth of the other sunfish as typified by the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). The superior pharyngeal is also more massive (Figure 3).
Fig. 3 Left upper (supra-) pharyngeal arch of redear sunfish. Views are of ventral and medial surfaces
The parasphenoid of redear is distinctive from that of any other Lepomis (Figure 4).
Fig. 4 Ventral aspect of parasphenoid. Note flaring of bone posterior to midpoint of element
The articulated infrapharyngeals and supra-pharyngeals also display massive architectural structuring (Figure 8).
Fig. 8 Articulated lower (L,R) and upper (R,L) pharyngeals of redear illustrating powerful architecture
