Lamella (zoology) facts for kids
A lamella (say: lah-MEL-uh) is a thin, flat part found in many animals. Think of it like a tiny, soft plate. Lamellae are very important for different jobs, like helping fish breathe or helping birds find food.
What are Lamellae?
Lamellae are usually soft and thin, like a small leaf or a tiny sheet. They are often found in groups or layers. These special parts help animals do important things to survive, like getting oxygen or filtering food from water.
Lamellae in Fish Gills
One of the most common places to find lamellae is in the gills of a fish. Fish gills are like lungs for humans, but they work underwater. Inside a fish's mouth, you can see red, feathery parts called gills. Each gill has many thin, bony arches. Attached to these arches are tiny, soft plates called lamellae.
These gill lamellae are covered with very small blood vessels. When water flows over the gills, oxygen from the water passes into the fish's blood through these lamellae. At the same time, carbon dioxide (a waste product) moves from the fish's blood into the water. This process is how fish breathe underwater.
Lamellae in Filter-Feeding Animals
Lamellae are also used by some animals to find food. Animals like water birds and ducks are known as filter feeders. This means they get their food by filtering small organisms or tiny bits of plants from the water.
Ducks, for example, have special lamellae along the edges of their beaks. When a duck scoops up water, these lamellae act like a sieve or a strainer. They let the water flow out but keep the small food particles inside the duck's mouth. This helps them catch tiny insects, seeds, or algae that are floating in the water.
