In fish anatomy, a small star-shaped otolith (ear bone) found in the inner ear; one of three ear bones in many fish species.
From Latin asteriscus, from Greek asteriskos, diminutive of aster 'star.' Named for its small, star-like appearance under magnification.
Fish have tiny star-shaped ear bones called asterisci that help them detect movement and maintain balance in water—they're so distinctive that scientists use them to identify fish species and even estimate their age, like reading tree rings!
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