Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Echinometra lucunter

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Kingdom
  
Superorder
  
Phylum
  
Echinodermata

Rank
  
Species

Class
  
Echinoidea

Family
  
Genus
  
Order
  
Echinometra lucunter Taxon The echinoderms of Panama

Similar
  
Echinometra, Lytechinus variegatus, Echinometra viridis, Lytechinus, Echinometridae

Echinometra lucunter oursin r cifal des antilles par christian aimar


Echinometra lucunter, the rock boring urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinometridae. It is found in very shallow parts of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Contents

Echinometra lucunter Sea urchins ECHINOMETRIDAE Echinometra lucunter Marine

Description

Echinometra lucunter Echinometra lucunter

Echinometra lucunter has an elliptical rather than a round test (shell). It can grow to a diameter of about 8 centimetres (3.1 in) and grows larger at the extreme north and south ends of its range than it does in the centre. It has moderately short spines with wide bases and sharp tips. The colour of the test varies from black to deep brownish-red, often being more ruddy on its aboral (upper) surface than on its oral (lower) surface. The spines are usually black.

Distribution and habitat

Echinometra lucunter Taxon The echinoderms of Panama

Echinometra lucunter is common throughout the Caribbean Sea and also occurs in Florida, Bermuda and the South American coast as far south as Brazil. It occurs on shallow rocky areas and on coral reefs usually at depths of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) or less but occasionally in deeper water down to about 45 metres (148 ft). It is sometimes found among seagrasses and often under rock slabs or broken coral especially in places with high water movement. It sometimes occurs in large numbers and causes considerable damage to coral reefs through its boring activities.

Biology

Echinometra lucunter 216837pg1jpg

Echinometra lucunter uses the teeth that surround its mouth to grind away at the rock underneath it so as to make a hemispherical depression in which it takes refuge during the day. It emerges at night to graze on algae growing within a few centimetres (inches) of its home. It defends this hole against other sea urchins of its own species. The king helmet shell (Cassis tuberosa) feeds on it and several species of small goby conceal themselves underneath its test.

Echinometra lucunter httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Echinometra lucunter Rock Boring Urchins Echinometra lucunter lucunter USVI Caribbean

References

Echinometra lucunter Wikipedia


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