Long-spined urchin
Diadema antillarum
(Philippi, 1845)

Description:
Easily recognized by the numerous long, dark purple to black spines. Sometimes also grayish-white spines are present. The young may have banded spines.
Size: Body up to 10 cm. Spines up to 20 cm.

Habitat:
Lives on coral reefs, flats, rubble etc. They hide during the day and feed on algae during the night.
Depth: ranges from 0 m down to 40 m.

Distribution:
Abundant to common all over the Caribbean.

Remarks:
The finely barbed spines easily penetrate skin and break off, causing infections and painful wounds.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Genus Diadema
Species Diadema antillarum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Diadema antillarum Philippi, 1845

Scientific synonyms and common names

Long-spined urchin [English]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Voss, G.L., 1976. Seashore life of Florida and the Carribbean. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, Florida.

You can continue searching for Diadema antillarum on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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