Thursday, April 14, 2011

Stone Eyes

Who da thunk it?

Sea creatures called chitons can use beadlike structures made of rock to distinguish light and shapes of approaching predators, a new study says.  Chitons' rock eyes appear to have some specific advantages. For one thing, the hard aragonite, that makes up their shells and rock eyes, is extremely resilient, an important trait for chitons, which are constantly being pummeled by waves in their natural habitats, shallow tidal pools.  If their eyes were made of protein, which is the case for humans and most other animals, they would get worn right away.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110414-eyes-rock-crystal-mineral-chiton-mollusk-vision-animals-science/?source=link_fb20110414molluskseyes

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