Pincushion Tuxedo Urchin
Mespilia globulus (Temnopleuridae)
Distribution: Coastal waters of Asia from India to Southern Japan.
Habitat: Coral reefs. During daylight hides among rocks, in crevices, or under plants in a sandy substrate.
Appearance: Diameter to 8 cm. Red to brown short, sharp spines are separated by ten bluevelvet regions where spines are absent.
Diet: Primarily a nocturnal feeder on coralline algae, also green filamentous algae. Grazes by
scraping with its Aristotle’s lantern apparatus, as do all sea urchins.
Remarks: Camouflages itself with various items such as rubble and detritus Pedicellariae are constructed of several small spines which have become modified to articulate with one another and function as snapping jaws. Each pedicalliria is typically found on an elongate and extensible stalk, and they reach out to pinch any small animals or body parts, such as the adhesive tube feet of a predatory sea star, that threaten the sea urchin.
Color Cluster
4-21-16
Pincushion Tuxedo Urchin
Mespilia globulus (Temnopleuridae)
Distribution: Coastal waters of Asia from India to Southern Japan.
Habitat: Coral reefs. During daylight hides among rocks, in crevices, or under plants in a sandy substrate.
Appearance: Diameter to 8 cm. Red to brown short, sharp spines are separated by ten bluevelvet regions where spines are absent.
Diet: Primarily a nocturnal feeder on coralline algae, also green filamentous algae. Grazes by
scraping with its Aristotle’s lantern apparatus, as do all sea urchins.
Remarks: Camouflages itself with various items such as rubble and detritus Pedicellariae are constructed of several small spines which have become modified to articulate with one another and function as snapping jaws. Each pedicalliria is typically found on an elongate and extensible stalk, and they reach out to pinch any small animals or body parts, such as the adhesive tube feet of a predatory sea star, that threaten the sea urchin.
Color Cluster
4-21-16