Vomerine

Vomerine is an anatomical term related to the vomer, a slender bone located on the roof of the mouth in many vertebrates. The most common usage is in reference to vomerine teeth, small dentitions attached to the vomer bone on the palate.

Vomerine teeth are typically described as conical or spike-like structures situated on the midline of the upper palate, behind the other tooth rows. In amphibians, especially many frogs and some salamanders, these teeth help grip prey once it is captured by the tongue or mouth opening, assisting in keeping the prey in place during swallowing. The arrangement and size of vomerine teeth can vary among species and may be reduced or absent in some lineages.

Variation and evolution are notable aspects of vomerine dentition. Not all amphibians retain vomerine teeth, and among those that do, the number, position, and prominence can differ. Their presence can reflect adaptations to specific feeding strategies and prey types. In the broader context of vertebrate anatomy, the vomer bone itself contributes to the structure of the nasal cavity and the palate, and the term vomerine can be used to describe other features related to the vomer bone beyond dentition.

In summary, vomine-related dentition denotes the teeth attached to the vomer bone on the palate, most commonly observed in amphibians, where they play a role in prey retention and ingestion.