species: Plococidaris verticillata in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Plococidaris verticillata


©Anne Hoggett: Plococidaris verticillata from under a slab of rubble at North Point, Lizard Island. Test diameter is about 2 cm.

©Anne Hoggett: Plococidaris verticillata from under a slab of rubble at North Point, Lizard Island.

©Lyle Vail and Anne Hoggett: Plococidaris verticillata at night
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Order Cidaroida
Family Cidaridae
Genus Plococidaris
Species Plococidaris verticillata

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

Cidarids are commonly called slate-pencil urchins for their thick spines. There are only three cidarid species known from the Lizard Island area and they are easily distinguishable.

Plococidaris verticillata has spines with several thorny whorls along their lengths. The spines are often heavily encrusted with other marine life.

Size

  • Up to 2 cm (test diameter of Lizard Island specimens)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

This species is virtually never seen during the day because individuals are hidden deep within the reef. They emerge at night but are never seen in large numbers.

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.