- Echinothrix diadema
::"Several species of sea urchin are commonly called Diadema urchins, go here for a discussion"
Taxobox
name =Diadema urchin
image_width = 250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Echinodermata
classis =Echinoidea
subclassis =Euechinoidea
superordo =Diadematacea
ordo =Diadematoida
familia =Diadematidae
genus = "Echinothrix "
genus_authority = Peters, 1853
species = "E. diadema"
binomial = "Echinothrix diadema"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus,1758 The Diadema Urchin "(Echinothrix diadema)" is a long spined urchin, with a diameter of about 8 cm. It is generally black in colour, and always dark. The spines are closed at the tip; the anal sac is spotted light and dark.
It is found in the
Indo-Pacific region, in dark reef. It is active at night, hiding in crevices or under rocks at night.It hosts commensal species like the
shrimp "Stegopontonia commensalis ". "Saron marmoratus " stays close for protection, like many fish of the families "Apogonidae " (cardinal fish ) and "Aeoliscidae " (razor fish ).The difference with "
Echinothrix calamaris " is that spines are not banded. The more similar species is "Diadema setosum ", having longer spines, the distinguishing feature being the colour of the anal sac.
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