Echinothrix


Echinothrix is a genus of sea urchins which was first described in 1853 by Wilhelm Peters, a German naturalist and explorer.

Description and characteristics

The genus contains two species, E. diadema and E. calamaris. These can be distinguished by the fact that E. diadema has fully black spines whereas E. calamaris has striped spines. Both of these species are found in the Indo-Pacific region, living on coral reefs.

Taxonomy

According to World Register of Marine Species :
ImageScientific nameDistribution
Echinothrix diadema Indo-Pacific coral reefs, from the Red Sea to Hawaii
Echinothrix calamaris Indo-Pacific region, from eastern coast of Africa to French Polynesia, including Hawaii and the Red Sea