How do Carp Digest their Food?

To explain why certain baits are attractive to carp, we need to understand something about its digestive system. Inside the carp’s mouth, the buccal cavity is lined with a folded membrane with tough ridges. The mucosa is covered in microscopic projections called papillae and is richly provided by mucus goblet cells and taste buds. The palatal taste organ on the top of the mouth traps the food against the bottom of the mouth. Non-food items are expelled through the gills. Larger items are spat out. Approximately 97% of what the carp takes in is ejected. At the back of the mouth are the pharyngeal teeth. These are aligned in three rows on each side of the mouth, with three teeth in the innermost row and one tooth each in the two outer rows. The teeth are positioned below a tough calcified pad. Food is ground between it and the pharyngeal teeth. The duct which carries the ground up food to the intestine and receptive sack is called the oesophagus. It is lined with...