Ambulacral
Encyclopedia
Ambulacral is a term typically used in the context of anatomical parts of the phylum Echinoderm
ata or class Asteroidea
and Edrioasteroidea
. Echinoderms can have ambulacral parts that include ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers. For example, sea star
s or "star fish" have an ambulacral groove on their oral side (underside). This ambulacral groove extends from the mouth to the end of each ray or arm. Each groove of each arm in turn has four rows of hollow tube feet that can be extended or withdrawn. Opposite the ambulacral groove is an ambulacral ridge on the aboral side of each ray, known as an ambulacrum, which has interambulacra between it.
Echinoderm
Echinoderms are a phylum of marine animals. Echinoderms are found at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone....
ata or class Asteroidea
Sea star
Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea...
and Edrioasteroidea
Edrioasteroidea
The Edrioasteroids are an extinct class of echinoderm that lived from the Ediacaran to the Permian periods of geologic time, about...
. Echinoderms can have ambulacral parts that include ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers. For example, sea star
Sea star
Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea...
s or "star fish" have an ambulacral groove on their oral side (underside). This ambulacral groove extends from the mouth to the end of each ray or arm. Each groove of each arm in turn has four rows of hollow tube feet that can be extended or withdrawn. Opposite the ambulacral groove is an ambulacral ridge on the aboral side of each ray, known as an ambulacrum, which has interambulacra between it.
Sources
- http://www.palaeos.com/Invertebrates/Echinoderms/Echinodermata.Glossary.html
- http://tolweb.org/Asteroidea