The scientific name for fish bones is "intramuscular bones," which are small bones distributed in the muscle septa on both sides of a fish's vertebrae, primarily growing in the bodies of lower teleost fish. Paleontologists have discovered that as fish gradually evolved, intramuscular bones underwent a process of first increasing in number, then decreasing, and finally disappearing. It can be said that the number of fish bones, to some extent, reflects the evolutionary history of fish.
As a type of meat that is said to "make children smart, men strong, women beautiful, and the elderly live longer," fish is widely welcomed by nutritionists and cat lovers. Those who love to eat fish must know that special care must be taken when eating crucian carp and grass carp because their bones are small and dense, and a moment of carelessness can lead to the tragedy of a fish bone getting stuck in the throat. However, when eating catfish or snakehead fish, you can relax a bit because their bones are larger and more obvious, making them easy to pick out. So, the question arises: why do some fish have more bones while others have fewer?
First, we need to clarify what these so-called "fish bones" are. Biologically, these fish bones have a scientific name: intramuscular bones. They are small bones distributed in the muscle septa on both sides of a fish's vertebrae, primarily growing in the bodies of lower teleost fish. The common carp, grass carp, and silver carp we are familiar with all belong to the order Cypriniformes among the lower teleost fish. Paleontologists have found that as fish gradually evolved, intramuscular bones underwent a process of first increasing in number, then decreasing, and finally disappearing. For example, the order Anguilliformes, which appeared earlier, has the most intramuscular bones. The order Cypriniformes, which appeared slightly later, still has intramuscular bones, but their number has already decreased compared to Anguilliformes. By the time of the order Siluriformes (such as catfish), the intramuscular bones in their bodies are almost non-existent. It can be said that the number of fish bones, to some extent, reflects the evolutionary history of fish.
So, what are the main functions of intramuscular bones? There is no definitive answer in the scientific community. However, a widely accepted theory is that the main function of intramuscular bones is to support muscles and control fish movement. When a fish needs to move longitudinally, its muscles contract, and by relying on the intramuscular bones to generate force, it can make some finer directional changes. However, for carnivorous fish like catfish, predation relies mainly on instantaneous explosive power, requiring strong skeletal support and well-developed muscles. This survival need has caused carnivorous fish to no longer depend on intramuscular bones. In the process of evolution, their bones have become thicker and larger, and the small spines have become fewer and fewer. In summary, the evolutionary process of animals generally goes from lower to higher, and from simple to complex structures. The evolution of fish skeletons is manifested in a gradual decrease and more rational concentration in number.
In addition, it should be noted that situations where "a fish bone gets stuck in the throat" often occur in our daily lives, and there have been cases of death due to improper handling. So, what is the correct way to handle a fish bone stuck in the throat? Some might suggest "drinking vinegar or swallowing a bun to force it down," but is this really effective? Let's first listen to what the experts say. Experts say that after a fish bone gets stuck in the throat, the best method is "stop swallowing and try to vomit," which means to induce vomiting immediately. If vomiting is not possible, then the best course of action is to go to the hospital to seek help from a doctor.