Aristotle's Lantern
The lantern of Aristotle ( Latin Aristotelis lantern ) is the inner jaw apparatus of the sea urchins , especially the pentameric regularia and the Clypeasteridae . It consists of 40 skeleton plates with five teeth that are movably connected to one another. The chewing apparatus was first described by the Greek polymath Aristotle as a lantern in ancient Greek λαμπτήρ , which is why it got its current name.
construction
The jaw apparatus is axially symmetrical with a five-fold axis of symmetry ( pentamerism ). It forms the mouth opening of the animals and thus includes the throat . The most important elements are the five tooth-bearing interradial pyramids to which the muscles for the jaw attach. With the help of their teeth, sea urchins can scrape off surfaces or break up pieces of food; some species also use it to dig into rocks .
Mouth of a sea urchin, detailed view with dental apparatus
Sea urchin, oral side with dental apparatus
Individual evidence
- ↑ Aristotle Historia animalium ( Περὶ τὰ ζῷα ἱστορίαι ), IV, 5 (530 A 32-531 A 7), especially 531 here a 3-5: "Κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τελευτὴν συνεχὲς τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐχίνου ἐστί , κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν οὐ συνεχὲς ἀλλ 'ὅμοὶον λαμπτῆρι μὴ ἔχοντι τὸ κύκλῳ δέρμα. " . ")