These Are the Fish with the Most Teeth

When we think of fish, we easily imagine shimmering scales and swishy tails floating through the sea. We don’t typically think of a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. But some fish take dental work to a whole new level. Whether they use them to crunch, shred, or defend, these species pack some serious bite. So, let’s dive deep, pun definitely intended, and take a closer look at the fish with the most teeth in the water!

Don’t let this colorful little fellow fool you. You’d never guess it, but the parrotfish has over 1,000 teeth. Their teeth are packed into a hard and beak-like structure. These fish aren’t hunting prey; they’re scraping algae off coral and rocks. Now, here is a fun tidbit for you: when these fish teeth wear down, new teeth continuously replace the old ones!

These monster-looking fish have flat, square teeth that eerily resemble human molars. Their impressive tooth count doesn’t just make their smile look like a human's. Their teeth lets them crack nuts, crush fruit, and nibble plants with great ease. It’s a smile that’ll definitely make you do a double-take.

The northern pike is a freshwater ambush predator with up to 700 needle-sharp teeth. They are arranged in multiple rows so that they can grip slippery prey like fish and frogs with no chance of escape. The fun tidbit with these fish is that when their teeth point backward, it can help them to swallow victims whole.

Don’t let this fish's exterior fool you. Once they open their mouth, their grin says it all. This saltwater fish has rows of flat, human-like teeth. This makes them perfect for crushing crabs, barnacles, and oysters. Their strong jaws make short work of hard shells, and they always look like they’re grinning. So, that may or may not be scary to a lot of people.

This slender moray eel is fancifully equipped with two sets of teeth. There is one in the jaw and a second set in the throat (otherwise known as pharyngeal teeth). This gruesome design helps them to easily snag fish, then pull it further down their throat. It’s like something out of a horror movie if we’re being honest.

Yes, sharks are fish too! The legendary great white shark doesn’t just have big teeth — it has rows of them that make up about 300 teeth in total. They are arranged in layers, with replacements constantly moving forward, believe it or not. This ensures the shark always has a fresh set ready to bite through seals, fish, or unlucky surfboards.

If a fish had switchblades, the barracuda would be armed to the gills, (see what we did there). Its long, dagger-like teeth are designed for speed attacks. Which makes them masters at slicing through schools of fish with lightning-fast strikes. And they don’t just cut — they can leave a serious wound in an instant.

If you’re scared of monsters, then this African river monster is sure to get you. The African tigerfish looks as fierce as its name suggests. It has long, interlocking teeth, sometimes up to an entire inch long. They are perfect for tearing through prey in murky rivers. 

The wolf fish isn’t here to just merely nibble. With their powerful jaws and a mouthful of sharp, teeth, this fish can easily crush through hard-shelled prey like crabs and mollusks. Its bite is so strong that it can even break fishing hooks. You’d better respect this underwater jawbreaker!

This eel is similar to its cousins. The green moray eel flashes a fearsome set of long, curved teeth. With both front and back teeth ready to grab and hold prey, escape is nearly impossible. The eel’s grin is truly haunting and only adds to its intimidation among divers.

Now, the Lingcod might look clunky, but they’re serious predators. Each fish can sport more than 500 needle-like teeth along its jaw and down its throat even. These fish clamp down on prey so tightly that scientists study their teeth for new materials to use in dental implants!

No list of fish with scary teeth is complete without the infamous piranha. They have literal rows of razor-sharp triangular teeth that fit together like scissors. And piranhas can shear through flesh in a matter of seconds. Despite their reputation, they usually prefer scavenging — but they’ll bite if provoked.

This fish is almost like a living fossil. The alligator gar sports long, sharp teeth that match its alligator-like snout. They have a powerful bite that can take down fish, birds, and even small mammals. Its armor-like scales only add to its tough-as-nails reputation in the waters.

The viperfish is a deep-sea nightmare with teeth so long they can’t even fit inside its mouth. Instead, they curve up toward the eyes when the mouth is closed. Making this truly some of the most insane teeth we have ever seen. They are designed to impale prey in the pitch-black depths. So, yes, these teeth are among the most terrifying in the ocean.

Most of these fish have long, dangly, and scary teeth. Well, the Dogfish sharks have small teeth. But, don’t let that fool you –  their dental game is strong. With rows of small, sharp teeth, they grip slippery prey like squid and fish with ease.