Pecten (biology)

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pecten-biology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a pecten?A pecten is a comb‑like part of an animal that looks like a tiny set of teeth. It can help the animal eat, clean itself, or sense its surroundings.
2. How do pectens help animals eat?In fish and mollusks, pectens act like a filter. They trap food particles from the water and move them toward the animal’s mouth.

Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages, driven by similar environmental pressures or functional needs.
Analogous Structures: Structures that have similar functions but do not share a common evolutionary origin.
Biomimicry: The imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.