VB Shell Programming

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The animal on the cover of Visual Basic Shell Programming is a sea urchin (globigerina foraminifer). The name “sea urchin” is derived from an Old English word for the spiny hedgehog, a land animal similar to the American porcupine; they have been referred to as the “porcupines of the sea.” Like a porcupine’s quills, the sea urchin counts on its long spines to deter hungry predators.

The sea urchin’s outer skeleton, called a test, is composed of ten fused plates that encircle the sea urchin’s inner organs. Every other section has holes through which the sea urchin can extend its tubed feet. These feet are controlled by a water vascular system. By changing the amount of water inside, the animal can extend or contract its feet to move about. Sea urchins primarily use their feet to hang on to the bottom while feeding, but they can move quickly if necessary, moving on their feet, spines, or even their teeth. The sea urchin uses its teeth to scrape rocks clean of algae. Due to such wear, the animal’s teeth frequently grow and replace worn ones.

The sea urchin is sought out as food for birds, sea stars, cod, lobsters, and humans. Sea urchin eggs, commonly known as roe, are considered a delicacy in Asia and the United States and are a main ...