Pica facts for kids

Pica can mean different things! It's a word that shows up in many places, from animals to art and even how we measure text. Let's explore what "Pica" might refer to.

Biology and Animals

• Pica (disorder): This is a health condition where someone has a strong desire to eat things that are not food. This could be dirt, paper, or even ice.
• Posterior inferior cerebellar artery: This is an important blood vessel. It helps bring blood to a part of your brain called the cerebellum.

Living Things

Moths

Some types of moths have "pica" in their scientific names:

• Amblyptilia pica
• Blastobasis pica
• Bordaia pica
• Eucereon pica
• Hypatopa pica

Sea Snails

Several kinds of sea snails also have "pica" in their names:

• Cittarium pica
• Clavus pica
• Conus pica
• Diodora pica
• Mitra pica
• Oliva pica

Other Species

• Aechmea 'Pica': This is a special type of plant. It belongs to the Bromeliad family, which includes many colorful flowering plants.
• Pica (genus): This is a group of birds. It includes many types of magpies, which are known for their black and white feathers and intelligence.
• Pika: This is a small, furry mammal. It looks a bit like a rabbit but has round ears and no visible tail. Sometimes, its name was spelled "pica" in older texts.

Organizations and Groups

• Palestine Jewish Colonization Association: This group is also known as PICA. It was an organization that helped Jewish people settle in Palestine a long time ago.
• Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts: This is an art center in Western Australia. It shows modern art and performances.
• Portland Institute for Contemporary Art: This is another art center, located in Oregon, USA. It also focuses on modern and experimental art.

People Named Pica

Many people have the last name Pica, including:

• Antonio Pica (1923–2014): A Spanish actor who appeared in many films.
• Joe Pica (1923–1973): An American pianist who played jazz music.
• Pierre Pica (born 1951): A French linguist, someone who studies language.
• Tina Pica (1884–1968): An Italian actress, famous for her roles in comedies.

Places Called Pica

• Pica, Chile: A city found in the Tarapacá Region of Chile, a country in South America.
• Pica, Cumbria: A small village located in the northwest part of England.
• Pica, Jayuya, Puerto Rico: A neighborhood or "barrio" in Jayuya, Puerto Rico.

Technology and Other Uses

• Phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator: This is a special material. It's used to make heat shields for spacecraft. These shields protect the spacecraft from extreme heat when they re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
• Pica: This is a type of lance. A lance is a long spear used by a picador in bullfighting.
• Pica (typography): This is a unit of measurement. It's used in printing and design to measure the size of text and the space between lines. One pica is equal to 12 points.

See also

In Spanish: Pica para niños