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Day 89: Word of the day

Day 89 ... and i learnt a new word: operculum.

I'd discovered quite some time ago what these little shell fragments that one sees on the beach are. To myself, i started calling them "doors". (And there's many a live seashell i've picked up on the reef that has slammed its door in my face). Now i've discovered they have a "real" name: operculum.

 

Quote: The foot of many gastropods bears an operculum that seals the shell opening (aperture) when the head-foot is retracted into the shell.

 

In future, i shall try to use the correct term ... but what's the betting that i forget it, and go back to referring to them as "doors".

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Uploaded on September 27, 2009
Taken on September 27, 2009