最近猫大翻译一篇关于纽扣珊瑚的文章,有一段说水螅体将沙子融入体内,产生了很多疑惑,对此的解答是这样的。
Some zoanthid species have photosynthetic zooxanthellae living in their tissue that supplement the polyps' food intake. Many species, including the Yellow Zoanthids, incorporate sand into the layer between the inner and outer cell layers (mesoglea), possibly to help support them, possibly for defensive purposes.
有些水螅体会将沙子融入到体内,并置于内外腔的夹层中。有些水螅体则从来不会,所以这是区别水螅体品种的一种方法。
至于这些水螅体为什么要“吃沙子”有两种解释,一是说这些水螅需要借助沙粒来支撑自己,二是说借助沙子来御敌。
(外文书上的,我不确定是不是正确的,但这类书不会编造虚假的信息)