Echinometra mathaei

Rock-boring Urchin

`ina kea

small species image
click to enlarge

Chela Zabin

Maili Point, 9/2002
Echinometra mathaei
Description Habitat Trophic Info
Safety Comments Links to Resources

Description: These urchins have spikes ranging from white to orange in color and measure to about 2 1/2 inches, spikes included.
Habitat: They bores into rocks using their spikes to continuously scrape at their limestone or coral surroundings.  This certain species also stays with their black counterpart, the Echinometra oblonga.
Range (include invasive, native, endemic): Mostly found in shallow reef flats around Hawaii, or in branches of coral at depths of 50-60 feet. Native in the Indo-Pacific.
Trophic information: These urchins are scavengers, which eat dead and decaying matter drifting in the ocean.
Safety: Their spikes are not very sharp but if pressure is applied, it will break skin. Use caution, as with any urchin.
Comments: We had kept two Rock-Boring Urchins in our class fish tank and they kept climbing up the sides of the tank. The hybrid of both the Echinometra oblonga and the Echinometra mathaei is pink in color and is so rare that there is a professor in the University that will pay money for them.
Links to Resources:
 
 
 
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