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Hearth Sea Urchin

Eurypatagus ovalis

Notes:

Spotted this at a depth of about 10m during a night dive. The fine spikes are more like hairs -- I don't think they can prick at all, but I'm not sure whether or not they can prick (I didn't want to find out!).



No species ID suggestions

6 Comments

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann a year ago

Wonderful!

Blogie
Blogie a year ago

DonnaPomeroy - The online resources don't seem to be very helpful when it comes to the genus Leptodiadema...

DonnaPomeroy
DonnaPomeroy a year ago

I wonder if there are other species in the genus. I knew it wasn't L. purpureum, since that's endemic to Hawaii. They say the spines have very painful toxin in them, so I agree with you... Don't touch!

Blogie
Blogie a year ago

Gracias, harsuame!

Thanks for the suggestion, DonnaPomeroy! It does look similar, but the pictures of L. purpureum I've found on the net show spines that are evenly colored. The ones here are kind of banded, aren't they?

harsuame
harsuame a year ago

Fantastico ....

DonnaPomeroy
DonnaPomeroy a year ago

That's very beautiful. It looks very similar to the Fine-spined Urchin, found in Hawaii (Leptodiadema purpureum). The skeleton certainly indicates it is an Echinoderm of some sort.

Philippines

Lat: 7.09, Long: 125.66

Spotted on Mar 14, 2012
Submitted on Mar 15, 2012

Nearby spottings

Broadclub Cuttlefish Pleurobranchus peronii Puffball Sponge Vomer Conch