Diadema setosum

Description:

Around 40mm high, spherical black body with long and narrow black spines in proportion to its body, five white spots on the test, orange ring around the urchin's periproctal cone.

Habitat:

Spotted at Pulu Cinta, a sandy atoll reef at Sulawesi, Indonesia. Diadema setosum is commonly associated with coral reefs, but is also found on sand flats and in seagrass beds. Along with the other members of the family, D. setosum is a prolific grazer. They are known to feed on a variety of algal species common on tropical coral reefs.

Notes:

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Order: Diadematoida Family: Diadematidae Genus: Diadema Species: D. setosum