| Porgies are a family of compressed, deep-bodied marine fishes. Their most notable feature is their teeth which are either flattened incisors or pointed canines. These teeth, along with their pharyngeal teeth (found in the back of their throat), are used for crushing and grinding hard-shelled benthic invertebrates. Many porgies are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning their lives as females and later transforming into males. They are important food fishes, but some species have been implicated in ciguatera poisoning. |
