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0 "ZERO" STRIATED LIMPET
Limpets are found worldwide on rocky shores, where they make their home by
the thousands on exposed tidal rocks. They use acid secretions to etch out
an oval depression where they spend the day sucking so firmly onto the
rock with their muscular foot that they can hardly be removed. At night
they wander the rock, grazing on microscopic algae with a long, flexible
tongue provided with hundreds of tiny rasping teeth like sandpaper. It is
called a "radula". As the limpet feeds it leaves a zigzag grazing trail
behind. Before dawn, guided by chemical receptors, the limpet is able to
trail its way back to its rock depression home, protected from dashing
waves and predators. This remarkable behavior was first reported by
Aristotle 2000 years ago. See also letter "0".
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Radula scraping teeths |
of snail U.S. |
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