species: Prionocidaris verticillata in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Echinodermata > Echinozoa > Echinoidea > Cidaroidea > Cidaroida > Cidaroidea > Cidaridae > Stylocidarinae > Prionocidaris > Prionocidaris verticillata (gallery)
Prionocidaris verticillata


©Lyle Vail and Anne Hoggett: Prionocidaris verticillata at night

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Order Cidaroida
Family Cidaridae
Genus Prionocidaris
Species Prionocidaris verticillata
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Distinguishing features

Cidarids are commonly called slate-pencil urchins for their thick spines. There are only three cidarid species known from the Lizard Island area and they are easily distinguishable.

Prionocidaris verticillata has spines with several thorny whorls along their lengths. As shown in the photo above, the spines are often heavily encrusted with other marine life.

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

This species is virtually never seen during the day because individuals are hidden deep within the reef. They emerge at night but are never seen in large numbers.

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.