Variable Fire Urchin

Description:

Asthenosoma varium is a sea urchin (an echinoderm, a member of the phylum that also includes star fish ). To 22 cm (8 3/4 in.). Uniform arrangement of tightly packed spine clusters variable in color and length on a reddish spherical body. Long yellow thin spines on lower skirt. Its upper venom tipped spines, with distinctive globular swellings below the tip, can inflict a painful sting if handled; the pain lasts as long as several hours. This capacity, perhaps coupled with its reddish brown color, has given it the common name Fire Urchin.

Habitat:

Growing up to 22 cm (9 in.) in diameter, it lives on sand and rubble sea bottoms in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Australia and Southern Japan.