![Picture](/uploads/2/3/4/3/23436654/6259953_orig.jpg)
Rock Boring Urchin
Scientific Name: Echinometra lucunter Linnaeu
Class: Echinoidea
Location: They live in North Carolina, Bermuda southward throughout the Caribbean, and
eastern Central America to Brazil. Theycan also be found in West Africa and Indo-Pacific, including Hawai‘i.
Description of Habitat: It is commonly found on limestone reef rock in the surf zone It can be very
common in shallow, exposed fore reef or reef crest habitats, occupying shallow
depressions or borrows created by the abrading action of the urchin’s spines and
teeth on the rock surface.
Fun Facts:
1) They feed on plankton and algae.
2) to 2 ½ inches (6 cm) diameter
3) Sea Urchins use tubed feet to get around.
4) Their basic five-part symmetry is evident in the five zones of tube feet, alternating with five zones of spines, which run from the mouth on the urchin’s underside to the top of the body.
Threatened/Endangered: This Species is in no danger of Extinction at thte moment.
Human Impact: Humans consume the gonads of this species. This urchin can also be an indicator of marine pollution by the mercury levels found inside of its gonads.
Citation:
http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/rockboring-urchin/1748#2
http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/animal-guide/invertebrates/echinoderms/rock-boring-urchin/
http://www.talesofxyphoid.com/greece/greece.htm
Scientific Name: Echinometra lucunter Linnaeu
Class: Echinoidea
Location: They live in North Carolina, Bermuda southward throughout the Caribbean, and
eastern Central America to Brazil. Theycan also be found in West Africa and Indo-Pacific, including Hawai‘i.
Description of Habitat: It is commonly found on limestone reef rock in the surf zone It can be very
common in shallow, exposed fore reef or reef crest habitats, occupying shallow
depressions or borrows created by the abrading action of the urchin’s spines and
teeth on the rock surface.
Fun Facts:
1) They feed on plankton and algae.
2) to 2 ½ inches (6 cm) diameter
3) Sea Urchins use tubed feet to get around.
4) Their basic five-part symmetry is evident in the five zones of tube feet, alternating with five zones of spines, which run from the mouth on the urchin’s underside to the top of the body.
Threatened/Endangered: This Species is in no danger of Extinction at thte moment.
Human Impact: Humans consume the gonads of this species. This urchin can also be an indicator of marine pollution by the mercury levels found inside of its gonads.
Citation:
http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/rockboring-urchin/1748#2
http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/animal-guide/invertebrates/echinoderms/rock-boring-urchin/
http://www.talesofxyphoid.com/greece/greece.htm