Common Urchins

Critter Spotlight: Tripneustes gratilla

Photo Credit: Bob Goemans

Most inhabit somewhat shallow coastal environments, usually no deeper than about 150 feet (45 m) and most often are found in seagrass beds, under rocks, coral crevices, and where algae encrusted rubble exists. There are many species in various 'Orders' and associated families. Some are well suited for aquaria, some are quite toxic, and many should simply be left in the wild.

Order: Cidaroida - Family Cidaridae

• Eucidaris metularia (Long-spined Urchin)
• Eucidaris tribuloides (Mine/Club/Pencil Urchin)
• Goniocidaris tubaria (Mine Urchin)
• Phyllacanthus imperialis (Imperial Sea Urchin)
• Prionocidaris baculosa (Crown-spined Pencil Urchin)
• Prionocidaris bispinosa (Pencil Sea Urchin)
• Prionocidaris verticillata (Crown/Thorn-spined Sea Urchin)
• Stylocidaris affinis (Red Sea Urchin)

Order: Diadematoida - Family Diadematidae

• Astropyga magnifica (Magnificent Urchin)
• Astropyga radiata (Red Radiating Hatpin Urchin)
• Astropyga varium (Radiating Hatpin Urchin)
• Centrostephanus longispinus (Needle-spined Sea Urchin)
• Centrostephanus rodgersii (Needle Sea Urchin)
• Diadema antillarum (Long-spined Sea Urchin)
• Diadema savignyi (Long-spined Urchin)
• Diadema setosum (Hatpin Urchin)
• Echinothrix calamaris (Double-spined/Hatpin Urchin)
• Echinothrix diadema (Black Hatpin Urchin)

Order: Echinoida - Family Echinidae

• Echinus esculentus (Edible Urchin)
• Echinus melo (Melon Sea Urchin)
• Paracentrotus lividus (Rock Sea Urchin)
• Psammechinus microtubeculatus (Little Sea Urchin)

Order: Echinoida - Family Echinometridae

• Colobocentrotus altratus (Shield Urchin)
• Echinometra lucunter (Rock Boring Urchin)
• Echinometra mathaei (Common/Burrowing Urchin)
• Echinometra viridia (Reef Urchin)
• Echinostrephus aciculatus (Red Urchin)
• Echinostrephus molaris (Boring Sea Urchin)
• Heterocentrotus mammillatus (Pencil Urchin)

Order: Echinoida - Family Strongylocentrotidae

• Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (Purple Urchin)
• Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Purple Urchin)

Order: Echinothurioida - Family Echinothuriidae

• Asthenosoma ijimai (Fire Urchin)
• Asthenosoma varium (Pinhead/Fire Urchin)

Order: Temnopleuroida - Family Temnopleuridae

• Mespilia globulus (Blue Tuxedo Urchin)
• Microcyphus rousseaui (Rousseau Sea Urchin)
• Salmacis belli (Pin Urchin)
• Salmacis dussemieri (Salt & Pepper Urchin)
• Salmacis sphaeroides (Bicolor Urchin)

Order: Temnopleuroida - Family Toxopneustidae

• Lytechinus variegatus (Variegated Urchin)
• Pseudoboletia indiana (Hat Urchin)
• Pseudoboletia maculata (Hat Urchin)
• Sphaerechinus granularis (Violet/Purple Sea Urchin)
• Toxopneustes pileolus (Flower/Poison Urchin)
• Tripneustes gratilla (Priest-Hat Urchin)
• Tripneustes ventricosus (West Indian Sea Egg Urchin)