Description

Also known as Hidden Sea Urchin, Knobby Sea Urchin, Mine Urchin, Pencil Urchin, Red-banded Urchin, Sea Hedgehog, Sputnik Urchin.

Found singly, during the day, hiding in holes, hollows, and seagrass beds, venturing at night, foraging for food, over shallow reefs, sometimes at greater depths. Their spikes vary in colour.
They feed on algae, bryzoans, small invertebrates, organic detritus, and sponges.
Length - 3cm
Depth - 0-500m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Sea Urchins use tubed feet to get around, often in large impenetrable masses for protection.
Sometimes they hitch a lift on the back of crabs.
They have well developed jaws for grinding their prey.
Their anus is on top in most sea urchins, except the heart urchins where it is at the rear.
Predators of sea urchins are triggerfish and large wrasses, who nibble away at their spines before turning them over to eat the fleshy undersides.
Sea Urchins are highly venomous and can piece through a wet-suit.
Some are sensitive to light and have the ability to shoot venom loaded spines at a short distance.
To be avoided!! Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucidaris_metularia