WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Reticulated Sea Biscuit

Clypeaster reticulatus

Also known as: Biscuit Urchin, Cake Urchin, Cushion Sea Star, Heart Urchin, Irregular Urchin, Sand Dollar, Sea Biscuit, Sea Hedgehog

Adult
@fishx6 · Keleti Beach, Tonga · October 20111 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, or in vast numbers, partially buried, over sandy areas and occasionally on rocky reefs.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
biscuithairy

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in vast numbers, partially buried, over sandy areas and occasionally on rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumEchinodermata
    3. classEchinoidea
    4. orderClypeasteroida
    5. familyClypeasteridae
    6. genusClypeaster
    7. speciesClypeaster reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Clypeasteroida