What is the difference between the teeth of land animals and the teeth of deep ocean fish. In general the teeth of deep ocean fish are translucent while land animals have white teeth. Are the two completely different in chemical make up or do deep sea fish only have a different structure due to pressure or what?
I am not a biologist, but I think most fish teeth and many fish bones are translucent, not just those of deep sea fishes. That said, mammal teeth are at least somewhat translucent as well, many dentists shine a bright light through teeth as part of regular examinations.
I think that that fish teeth seem to be more translucent due to size, shape, and structure. Mammal teeth have a larger amount of fairly opaque ‘pulp’ than fish teeth. Additonally, most fish teeth one is likely to encounter are rather small and thin in cross-section, allowing more lioght to pass. Further, deep sea fish are often small, compared to pelagic photic-zone fish, and their teeth are often spindly. Both of these factors would make them seem more translucent.
I’m hoping for an answer from a biologist here, that can answer the structure and chemical aspect. I fear the answer won’t be forthcoming, as I believe nobody that can answer this is a member here.