Echinometra mathaei

Echinometridae
Mathas Sea Urchin
  • Echinometra mathaei, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Echinometra mathaei, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Echinometra mathaei, Ha'apai Is, Tonga, Photo: Andrew Green
    Echinometra mathaei, Ha'apai Is, Tonga, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Echinometra mathaei, Lord Howe is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Echinometra mathaei, Lord Howe is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Echinometra mathaei, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Echinometra mathaei, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
This species has a different shape to other local sea urchins, with short fat primary spines which often have a white circle around the base. Because it can bore into limestone rock, it forms large aggregations on calcareous reefs in the zone of greatest wave action just below low water mark, including at Rottnest I.
Information
  • Max Size: 9 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-30.7°C
  • Depth: 0-34m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
  • Occurrence: Common (25% 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: Many (20 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
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