Collector urchin

Description:

Collector urchins are dark in color, usually bluish-purple with white spines. The spines are generally short compared to most other urchins (up to 1.5cm long) and are never longer than the width of the shell (adults 15 cm). They are often partially covered in algae, pebbles or shell fragments, making them distinct from other urchins. Size: Adult skeleton reaches 10-15cm in diameter, spine length 1.5cm. The collector urchin can be distinguished from most of these by its common behaviour of collecting algae, pebbles and shell fragments and placing these on its body (hence their other name, collector sea urchins). Reference: http://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/m...

Habitat:

Collector urchins are found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific, Collector urchins inhabit depths of 2 to 30 metres (7 to 100 ft). Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collector_...

Notes:

This collector urchin was spotted in a rock crevice near a beach in El Nido Palawan's paradise beach.