Burrowing Urchin

Echinometra mathaei

Habitat & Distribution :  Coral reef, depths of 0 - 139 m, Indo-Pacific Ocean

Diet : Algae and small invertebrates

Size: Up to 5 cm

Lifespan: 6 years

Deskripsi

The burrowing urchin has a small body with thick, short spines, often red-brown or dark colored in general with white tips and white rings around the base.

Behavior

As its name suggests, it is often found burrowing in rocks and corals, grazing on red algae near on encrusting on corals.

Reproduction

Fertilization is external and egg brooding is common, usually placed somewhere on its body

Communication & Perception

When a sea urchin is injured or dies, it releases a chemical signal to warn other urchins of the presence of a predator or other dangers. The other urchins can "smell" this chemical through their tube feet and quickly make their escape. They can also sense light (i.e. "see") that is absorbed in their spines.

The sea urchin has also been observed using physical contact with each other to communicate, especially in the presence of food, helping to keep their population stable in places with abundance of algae.

Predator(s)

Wolf eels (Anarrhichthys ocellatus), triggerfish, brittle star, and gastropod molluscs

Conservation Status: Not Evaluated