acanthopore
n. countablen. a small, sharp point or spine on an animal or plant. It is often used to describe the tiny spines found on the skin of certain sea creatures.
n. a small, sharp-pointed spine or process, typically found on the surface of invertebrates such as echinoderms. Often used in biological contexts to describe the microscopic structures of a sea urchin's test.
The sea urchin's surface is covered in tiny acanthopores.
Under a microscope, the biologist identified the acanthopores that provide structural support to the echinoderm's body.
The intricate arrangement of acanthopores on the echinoderm's exoskeleton serves both a defensive purpose and a mechanism for maintaining the organism's internal pressure.
Last updated June 22, 2026