Hawai'i Coral Reef Network

Marine Invertebrates of Hawai'i

Class Echinoidea -- Sea Urchins

Chondrocidaris gigantae - rough spined urchin

Description: large, blunt, pencil-thick spined urchin; spines covered with rough, thorn-like projections and often covered with encrustation's.

Size: up to 25 cm diameter.

Habitat: in holes on the reef.


Colobocentrotus atratus - shingle urchin

Description: small, flattened urchin with paddle-like spines; dark coloration.

Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 9 cm diameter.

Habitat: clinging to wave-swept shores.


rock boring urchin

Echinometra mathaei - rock boring urchin

Description: small, light-colored urchin with short spines, thick at the base and tapering to a sharp point; typically greenish-gray or reddish-brown.

Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 15 cm diameter.

Habitat: in holes and depressions on rock in shallow areas.



Echinometra oblonga - black boring urchin

Description: small, dark-colored urchin with short spines, thick at the base and tapering to a sharp point; typically dark purple or black

Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 15 cm diameter.

Habitat: in holes and depressions on rock in shallow areas.


banded sea urchin

Echinothrix calamaris - banded sea urchin (Wana)

Description: large urchins with long, slender, needle-like banded light and dark green spines; large spines covered with small spinelets.

Size: up to 15 cm diameter.

Habitat: in holes on the reef.

*** WARNING: this species has venomous spines ***



wana

Echinothrix diadema - black sea urchin (Wana)

Description: large urchins with long, slender, needle-like black spines; primary spines are shorter than the test diameter and banded light and dark green in young specimens; two distinct sizes of spines.

Size: up to 15 cm diameter.

Habitat: in holes on the reef.

*** WARNING: this species has venomous spines***



slate pencil urchin

Heterocentrotus mammillatus - slate pencil urchin

Description: large, blunt, pencil-thick spined urchin; often bright red.

Size: up to 20 cm diameter .

Habitat: in holes on the reef.



collector urchin

Tripneustes gratilla - collector urchin

Description: black, round urchin with short, narrow spines often tipped with white or pink; pebbles or shell are often held to the test.

Size: up to 10 cm diameter.

Habitat: common on reef flats but occurs in a variety of habitats.



Last update: 1/25/2005