A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Tripneustes ventricosus
Size: Body up to 15 cm. Spines up to 2 cm. A large bodied urchin with short thick white spines. The body color is usually black, but can occasionally be a brownish-purple color or white.
Ranguana Cay, Belize Found in seagrass beds and the shallower reefs. It uses seagrass leaves and all kinds of debris to camouflage itself.
Populations in some areas have declined because of overharvesting for their roe (eggs). Found in most areas and at depths from 0-30 feet. They feed on algae which cleans rock surfaces. This cleaning process gives corals a solid surface to attach to. It is believed that they cover themselves with leaves, rocks, shells and other debris to protect themselves from the sun.
Spotted on Oct 17, 2013
Submitted on Nov 23, 2013
No Comments