Papilla (fish anatomy) facts for kids

Have you ever wondered how fish taste their food? Unlike us, fish have special tiny bumps in their mouths called papillae. These small lumps are found in many fish, like rays, sharks, and catfish. They are spread out inside the mouth, on the roof, and in the throat. Fish taste buds are located right on top of these papillae.

Fish don't have a tongue like humans do. If a fish has something like a tongue, it's mostly for moving food around, not for tasting. That's why their papillae and taste buds are found in other places. You can often find them on the bottom of the mouth or on the upper lip.

What are Papillae?

Papillae are small, soft bumps made of skin tissue. They stick out a little bit from the lining inside a fish's mouth. Think of them like tiny hills where the fish's taste sensors are located.

How Fish Taste

Fish use their papillae to taste their food. Each papilla has taste buds on its top or sides. These taste buds help the fish know if something is good to eat or not.

• Location: Papillae are found all over the mouth, including the "tongue" area (if present), the roof of the mouth (palate), and the back of the throat (pharynx).
• Function: They act as platforms for taste buds, allowing fish to sense chemicals in the water and identify food.

Papillae in Different Fish

Not all fish have papillae in the same way.

• Rays and Sharks: These fish often have many papillae spread throughout their mouths.
• Catfish: Catfish are known for their strong sense of taste, and their papillae play a big part in this.

Why Fish Taste Differently Than Humans

Humans use their tongues for tasting, but fish have adapted to taste in their watery environment.

• No Human-like Tongue: Fish tongues are usually just a fold of tissue. They don't have the same muscles or taste functions as ours.
• External Taste: Some fish, like catfish, even have taste buds on their whiskers or fins! This helps them find food in murky water.