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Slate Pencil Urchin

Heterocentrotus mamillatus

Photo by SargonR
Published on Project Noah
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21.4463, -158.191

Field Notes

Description:

Slate Urchin, AKA Pencil Urchin, clinging to the rocks that form a small jetty inside Pokai Bay, Oahu, Hawaii.

Reference Links:

Slate Pencil Urchin, Heterocentrotus mamillatus

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
SargonR
Thanks! I had no idea they were called "urchin" because the resembled hedgehogs... quite fascinating!
LisaPowers
Such a beauty! We have featured it as av PN Fun Fact! https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah Project Noah Fun Fact: Sea urchins belong to the phylum Echinodermata which also includes sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and crinoids. They feed mainly on algae and have a mouth that has five calcium carbonate teeth or jaws, with a fleshy, tongue-like structure within. They have spines, which may be long or short depending on the species, that help protect them.The name "urchin" is an old name for the round spiny hedgehogs which sea urchins resemble. Some sea urchins have venomous spines. Sea urchins inhabit all marine ecosystems around the world and there are over 950 known species in the Echindormata.
SargonR
It is strange, I am not sure why but I find these fascinating... and they are much easier to get to sit still for a photo than the fish are!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Color Red
Mission
Underwater Hawai'i
Achilles Tang
O'ahu, Hawai'i
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

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Photographed
PublishedApril 26, 2014

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