Guest guest Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from thestar.com.my URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2003/1/14/features/lipangkor2 & se\ c=features ________________________ Tuesday, January 14, 2003 Sea urchins SEA urchins are members of a large group of marine invertebrates in the phylum Echinodermata (spiny skinned animals) that also includes starfish, sea cucumbers, sea lilies, and brittle stars. All sea urchins have a hard calcareous shell and are usually armed with spines which are used for locomotion, protection and for trapping drifting algae for food. Tube feet found between the spines perform similar functions. The mouth is located on the underside and is equipped with well-developed jaws and horny teeth. The mouth leads to the digestive tract which empties through the anus located on the top of shell. The sexes are generally separate in sea urchins. Females release up to several million eggs into the sea where fertilisation takes place. After a multistage planktonic existence, the larvae settle and metamorphose into the characteristic form. Sea urchins feed mainly on algae, tiny fishes and encrusting organisms such as sponges and ascidicians. Predators include sea otters, starfishes, crabs, eels, lobsters, triggerfishes and puffer fishes. Scientists say the Japanese appetite for sea urchin roe is endangering the creature. In some parts of the United States, the largest exporter of the sushi delicacy, sea urchins are harvested faster than they can reproduce. <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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