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The Jaws of the Spiny Sea-Urchin (aka Aristotle's Lantern)

This was my 200th photo on Flickr. The jaws of the spiny sea-urchin are located underneath its body (see the ivory-like teeth, sticking out near the top of the urchin in this photo) . In common with other echinoids the sea-urchin has five-sided symmetry and its five teeth (called Aristotle's Lantern) come together rather like the chuck of a power-drill. It uses them to scrape off food from the seabed as it crawls along on its spines. This one was probably a victim of one of the many cormorants that dive just offshore from Dysart beach. Photo made Explore on 19th July 2008.

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Uploaded on June 19, 2008
Taken on May 15, 2008