Banded Sea Urchin (species: Echinothrix calamaris) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Echinodermata > Echinozoa > Echinoidea > Euechinoidea > Acroechinoidea > Diadematoida > Diadematidae > Echinothrix > Echinothrix calamaris (gallery)
Echinothrix calamaris
Banded Sea Urchin


©Lyle Vail and Anne Hoggett: Echinothrix calamaris at night

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Order Diadematoida
Family Diadematidae
Genus Echinothrix
Species Echinothrix calamaris
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Distinguishing features

Echinothrix calamaris is a large urchin with two distinct types of hollow, brittle spines. The thick spines are usually, but not always, banded. The fine spines have backwardly-directed barbs near the tip and inflict a painful wound. The anal cone of this species is speckled. This species is well-represented in the Australian Museum collections from Lizard Island.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Echinothrix calamaris is never seen during the day as it is hidden deep within the reef. It is a common and conspicuous member of the nocturnal reef fauna at many localities around the island.

Web resources

References

  • Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.