Echinothuriidae
Sign in to saveThe Echinothuriidae are a family of sea urchins in the order Echinothurioida. These echinoderms are typical of the Indo-Pacific these softer-bodied "leather urchins" are found from abyssal to shallow littoral zones in the ocean. While common in the Indo-Pacific these colourful urchins can be found across the world. Some individuals within Echinothuriidae such as species in the genus Asthenosoma are also known as "fire urchins" due to their bright colours and painful, venomous sting.
Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumEchinodermata
- ClassEchinoidea
- OrderEchinothurioida
- FamilyEchinothuriidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Description and characteristics
- Habitat
- Interspecies interactions
- Reproductive biology
- Taxonomy
- References
The Echinothuriidae are a family of sea urchins in the order Echinothurioida. These echinoderms are typical of the Indo-Pacific these softer-bodied "leather urchins" are found from abyssal to shallow littoral zones in the ocean. While common in the Indo-Pacific these colourful urchins can be found across the world. Some individuals within Echinothuriidae such as species in the genus Asthenosoma are also known as "fire urchins" due to their bright colours and painful, venomous sting.
== Description and characteristics == The order to which they belong, Echinothurioida, is defined by compound plates which cover the ambulacra and the peristome. The test is composed of thin and weakly calcified plates, not always continuous. The spines are attached to perforated and uncrenulated tubercles. Spines from the oral face end with a hyaline hoof, which allows walking on soft substrate. The jaw (Aristotle's lantern) has five aulodont teeth.