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Heterocentrotus mammillatus
Large urchin, body up to 8 cm, the longer spines can reach 10 cm. It has 2 orders of spines, the longer are thick, smooth, triangular in section, brown reddish often with white bands. The body is covered with very short basal spines, white or brown. Found on the back reef, during the day inside cracks, active at night. Other species of sea urchins have thick spines (Phyllacanthus imperialis, Prionocidaris verticillata), but H. mammillatus is distinguished by the spines with triangular section. Source: - http://www.seadb.net/en_Pencil-urchin-He...
Spotted out in the open during a night dive.
Spotted on Jan 22, 2012
Submitted on Feb 13, 2012
19 Comments
Thanks forestdragon :-)
That is an incredible and beautiful photo!
Yes it is OnengDyah :-)
Thanks Harsha :-)
cool..
Another lovely creature.
Thanks Samantha :-)
Fantastic shot, Eric!
Thank you too for the nice comment Irungbam :-)
Thank you too Daniele. Oh a bit of additional trivia: the spines of these pencil urchins make good wind chimes :-)
Thanks Laura. Night dives are the best as it brings out these fantastic creatures. Come on over and let's go diving :-)
Incredible Eric! Fantastic pictures and organism.
WOW I've never seen an urchin like that!! Eric that's awesome! Ugh I wanna go diving so badly!
Thanks Saarbrigger. :-)
Wow amazing creatur and great foto.
Wonderful!!!! Thank you for the beautiful photo.
Thanks Seema and Atul :-)
lovely!
amazing