Eucidaris metularia

(Lamarck, 1816)

Vernacular names
English : Ten-lined urchin
French : Oursin-mine

Classification
Class : Echinoidea
Order : Cidaroida
Family : Cidaridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Test diameter up to 3 cm, spines grow up to 5 cm but generally less. Presence of a few very large spherical spines, usually red to brown with distinctive bands. Secondary spines are very small. Top part of test has no primary spines.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from the Red Sea and East Africa all the way to Fiji and Hawaii. Lives in rocky and seagrass areas near coral reefs, down to 40 m, even to 500 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed by IUCN. It has a large range and is at least locally common. It seems to suffer from no threats at present times.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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