carissapod :: fish parade
Coelopleurus exquisitus sea urchin test
As seen through my new macro lens, this is the test (calcium carbonate structural shell) of a small sea urchin that was unknown to science until one was purchased on eBay in 2006 and subesqently described by Natural History Museum scientists Simon Coppard and Heinke Schultz. I bought this test on eBay right around that time, unaware of this fact.
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Sea urchins are members of the phylum Echinodermata, which also includes sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and crinoids. Like other echinoderms they have fivefold symmetry (called pentamerism) and a mouth locatted ventrally. This species is from New Caledonia, and this particular test is about 1.6cm wide.
Coelopleurus exquisitus sea urchin test
As seen through my new macro lens, this is the test (calcium carbonate structural shell) of a small sea urchin that was unknown to science until one was purchased on eBay in 2006 and subesqently described by Natural History Museum scientists Simon Coppard and Heinke Schultz. I bought this test on eBay right around that time, unaware of this fact.
::::::::::::::::
Sea urchins are members of the phylum Echinodermata, which also includes sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and crinoids. Like other echinoderms they have fivefold symmetry (called pentamerism) and a mouth locatted ventrally. This species is from New Caledonia, and this particular test is about 1.6cm wide.