Centrostephanus tenuispinus

Long-spine urchin
Centrostephanus tenuispinus
Centrostephanus tenuispinus, Rottnest Is, WA, Photo: Andrew Green
Centrostephanus tenuispinus
Centrostephanus tenuispinus, Rottnest Island, WA, Photo: Antonia Cooper
Centrostephanus tenuispinus
Centrostephanus tenuispinus, Rottnest island, WA, Photo: Antonia Cooper
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Centrostephanus tenuispinus
Centrostephanus tenuispinus
Centrostephanus tenuispinus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Similar to C. rodgersii, except the spines are slate-grey in colour as opposed to turquoise and thinner spines relative to their length. This species also tends to prefer concealing itself in crevices and gutters more than its eastern counterpart.


Information

Max Size: 9 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 14.9-23.8°C

Depth: 0-104m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Common (33.3% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Several (8 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney