Echinothrix calamaris

(Pallas, 1774)

Vernacular names
English : Double-spined urchin
French : Oursin à doubles piquants

Classification
Class : Echinoidea
Order : Diadematoida
Family : Diadematidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a test diameter of 5 cm and a total diameter up to 30 cm. Five green-blue lines on test. Large hollow striped spines with rows of small brown spines in between, large inflated white-spotted periproctal cone.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to south Japan, north Australia, New Caledonia and east to French Polynesia. Lives in lagoons and coral reefs, down to 70 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed by IUCN. It has a huge range and doesn’t seem to face any threats at this time. Regularly collected for the trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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