Short spined sea urchins are highly variable species that range in base and spine colouration (including white, and purple combinations) and spine size and shape, even between individuals at the same location. Western Australian individuals often have shorter, stockier spines of similar length, sometimes resembling the widespread tropical species Echinometra mathaei. Very common, often the most abundant urchin species within its range, except on the east coast where it occurs with Centrostephanus rodgersii.

• Max Size: 9 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 10.3-23.3°C
• Depth: 0-35m
• Habitat: Rocky Reef

• IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
• Occurrence: Widespread (64% 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 (38 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.