Strongylocentrotus Droebachiensis - Anatomy - Internal Anatomy - Aristotle's Lantern

Aristotle's Lantern

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis eats by using a special appendage called Aristotle’s Lantern to scrape or tear their food into digestible bits. This structure is made of five, calcareous, protractible teeth that are maneuvered by a complex muscular structure. The sea urchin crawls on top of its food and uses Aristotle's Lantern to tear up and masticate chunks of it. If food lands on the aboral surface or is caught by pedicellariae, then it is carried via podia to the mouth and devoured in the same manner.

Read more about this topic:  Strongylocentrotus Droebachiensis, Anatomy, Internal Anatomy

Famous quotes containing the words aristotle and/or lantern:

    Aristotle and Plato are reckoned the respective heads of two schools. A wise man will see that Aristotle platonizes.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    God shall be my hope,
    My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)