palatine

substantive

A paired lateral bone on the roof of the mouth lying between the vomer and the upper jaw; the presence or absence of teeth on this bone is important in the classification of fishes; the elongate bone on each side of the palate. Properly called the autopalatine since it has a double nature, being covered ventrally by the dermal dermopalatine, which is often dentigerous. The palatine is cartilaginous in Lepisosteus and in Amia the dermopalatine is independent, not fused to the autopalatine.