species: Echinostrephus sp. in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Echinostrephus sp.


©Lyle Vail and Anne Hoggett: Typical living position of Echinostrephus sp.

©Anne Hoggett: Several specimens of Echinostrephus sp. at North Point, Lizard Island

©Anne Hoggett: A dense population of Echinostrephus sp. at Ribbon Reef #10 near Lizard Island
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Order Echinoida
Family Echinometridae
Genus Echinostrephus
Species Echinostrephus sp.

Colours

    

Distinguishing features

These small urchins are always found with their long, delicate spines protruding from a hole that the urchin has excavated for itself. The entire animal can only be seen if removed - with difficulty - from its hole (a permit is required!). Two species are known from northern Australia, Echinostrephus aciculatus and Echinostrephus molaris. They are distinguished by the number of pore pairs, a character that cannot be seen in the field. In both species, the test is tall relative to its width and is flat on top. Spines on the lower part of the test are very short.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Echinostrephus aciculatus is common on granite slopes at North Point and other places with suitable habitat. Despite this, there are no specimens in the Australian Museum collection from Lizard Island, perhaps due to the difficulty of extracting them intact from their holes. A single specimen of Echinostrephus molaris is in the AM collection from the seaward side of Yonge Reef.

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.