The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has posted a picture of a fish with human teeth. It was captured off the South Carolina coast.

While the fish is creeping some people out, its species is actually no longer stranger to many. They are in fact residents of the coast of South Carolina.

The fish, called sheepshead, are non-migratory and swim in the South Carolina waters all year round. They are also commonly found along the East Coast in North Carolina and Florida.

Fish With Human Teeth

On Wednesday, May 9, SCDNR biologist Pam Corwin educated people about the true nature of the sheepshead. In a Facebook post, he informed netizens that the sheepshead is a saltwater fish. They are commonly found in the region, hanging out nearby rocks, jetties, reefs, and bridges. People, however, need a license to catch one.

Its human-like incisors and molars are actually an advantageous feature that allows them to chomp on shrimps and oysters, which their diet mostly consists of. They also love blue crabs, clams, crustaceans, and other smaller fishes. Their infamous teeth are also used to scrape barnacles off from rocks and pilings.

The fish have exactly four broad incisor-like teeth on both sides of their anterior jaw and several molar-like teeth inside their mouth.

Human Consumption

Many may find its human teeth gross but sheepsheads are highly valued for human consumption according to the Florida Museum. Their white flesh has a mild flavor which some said were, in fact, delicious when broiled, microwaved, or baked.

The fish are being commercially harvested off the coasts of Florida, Texas, and Lousiana or collected for display in aquariums in public museums.

Majority of those catching sheepsheads, however, are recreational anglers. In Florida, anglers accounted for about 90-95 percent of the annual catch statewide.

There is no commercial fishery for sheepshead in South Carolina. Instead, the fish is being captured for leisure purposes as well.

More Facts About Sheepshead

Sheepshead is also called convict fish for its scales that are distinctively separated in black and white.

The fish is commonly described as having human teeth but its species name, probatocephalus, roughly translates to "sheep's head," which it also resembles.  

The species is not endangered but there have been concerns from environmental agencies about overfishing or overharvesting based on the assessments of its current population.

Sheepsheads tend to swim near spring outlets and river discharges but they eventually swim to the freshwater during the winter months.