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