WHATSTHATFISH
Sea stars & urchins

Whorl-spined Urchin

Plococidaris verticillata

Also known as: Crown Urchin, Crown Sea Urchin, Knobby Sputnik Sea Urchin, Land Mine Sea Urchin, Large-spined Urchin, Mine Urchin, Sea Hedgehog, Spiky Urchin, Spiny Urchin, Thorn-spined Sea Urchin, Thorn-spined Urchin, Prionocidaris verticillata

Adult
@blogie · Limao Reef, Samal Island, Philippines, Philippines · November 20111 / 1
01

Overview

Found hiding during the day, amongst coral and rubble bottoms, of coral and rocky reefs.
They feed nocturnally on detritus, dead fish, invertebrates, and sponges.

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
fingerswhorls

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

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

Found hiding during the day, amongst coral and rubble bottoms, of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumEchinodermata
    3. classEchinoidea
    4. orderCidaroida
    5. familyCidaridae
    6. genusPlococidaris
    7. speciesPlococidaris verticillata (Lamarck, 1816)

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Cidaroida