food Reference Libraries
The Mediterranean feather star is a filter feeder that obtains food by straining suspended matter and food particles from water. The star has a stalk that has up to forty tendrils, (threadlike organs) which help the star cling to hard surfaces. The “body” of the star is called a calyx and is shaped like a small cup. This calyx is surrounded by feathery pinnules bearing arms. These arms are...
The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), also known as the saddleback seal, is a true seal in the Phocidae family. It is native to northern areas of the Atlantic Ocean and to some areas of the Arctic Ocean. Its scientific name means "ice-lover from Greenland,” and it was previously classified within Phoca genus, although studies have shown that it is unique enough to be in a distinct genus....
The Asian Green Mussel, Perna Viridis, is an economically noteworthy mussel, a bivalve in the family Mytilidae. It’s harvested for food but it is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures. It’s a native to the Asia-Pacific region but has been introduced in the Caribbean, and in the waters around Japan, North America, and South America. This mussel ranges from...
The Zino’s Petrel (Pterodroma madeira) is a little seabird in the gadfly petrel genus which is endemic to the island of Madeira. This long-winged petrel has a grey back and wings, with a dark “W” marking across the wings, and a grey upper tail. The undersides of the wings are blackish except for a white triangle at the front edge near the body, and the belly is white with grey flanks....
The mouth is the beginning of the digestive system which takes in food and mixes it with saliva produced by glands located in the mouth. Formation and Orientation The first part of the mouth is the mouth cavity which contains the teeth and is limited by the lips, the roof, which is the hard and soft palate, and the floor of the mouth. This is the space where food is kept before it moves...
The stomach is the hollow organ that helps along digestion after mastication (chewing). It is the next step after the esophagus and before the small intestines. Formation and Orientation The stomach is composed of four parts. The cardia is the first part of the stomach in the digestive tract. It is the part of the stomach that allows the food to empty from the esophagus. The most northern...
This harmless shark is native to the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Indonesia, it is also found in coastal waters from Japan to India. It lives on the ocean floor in shallow areas around coral reefs, hiding during the day and feeding at night. In Taiwan and Madagascar the whitespotted bamboo shark is used for food. Occasionally this species is kept in home aquariums as pets. The young...
The cownose ray is found in the western Atlantic from the coast of Maine to southern Brazil. In the fall schools of 10,000 or more will migrate south to the warmer water of Yucatan, Mexico. The cownose ray is a bottom dweller at depths of up to 70 feet, in brackish (salty) water. As a territorial act the cownose will leap out of the water and land with a loud smack. An adult cownose has a...
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is native to the United States, occurring in the Great Plains to both the border of Canada and Mexico. Its range includes areas in Mexico, but no longer includes Arizona. This species was one of two prairie dog species to be described by Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. It prefers a habitat within grasslands, but their habitat...
The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is native to Africa, and is the most common zebra found. Its range extends from southern Ethiopia to East Africa, with a southern range including Angola and eastern South Africa. Its other common names include Burchell’s zebra and the common zebra. The plains zebra holds six recognized subspecies including Grant’s zebra and the maneless zebra. The plains...
