Sea urchin spine. Polarised light micrograph of a transverse section through a spine from the edible sea urchin (Echinus esculentus). The polarised li
Sea urchin spine. Polarised light micrograph of a transverse section through a spine from the edible sea urchin (Echinus esculentus). The polarised light has revealed the layers of the calcium carbonate that makes up most of a sea urchin's spine. These spines are designed to protect the sea urchin from predators, and some carry poison glands that can infect those that step on them. Magnification: x36 when printed at 10 centimetres across.
Size: 5150px × 3433px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: anatomical, anatomy, animal, biological, biology, calcium, carbonate, close-, cross-section, defence, defense, detail, details, echinodermata, echinus, edible, esculentus, fauna, histological, histology, invertebrate, invertebrates, light, lm, marine, mechanism, micrograph, microscope, mineral, nature, poison, poisonous, polarised, polarized, sea, section, sectioned, spine, transverse, urchin, wildlife, zoological, zoology
