Ten-lined Urchin
Eucidaris metularia
Also known as: Hidden Sea Urchin, Knobby Sea Urchin, Mine Urchin, Pencil Urchin, Red-banded Urchin, Sea Hedgehog, Sputnik Urchin
- Hidden Sea Urchin
- Knobby Sea Urchin
- Mine Urchin
- Pencil Urchin
- Red-banded Urchin
- Sea Hedgehog
- Sputnik Urchin
Overview
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.
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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 1
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.
Adult photos 1
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Deep dive
More in the family
Cidaroida


