Green rock-boring urchin
Echinometra viridis
(Agassiz, 1863)

Description:
The body of this species is elliptical in outline, not round. The spines are short, thick and sharply pointed. The color of the body is usually reddish to maroon. The smaller spines and the base of the major ones usually light brown with a reddish tinge. The rest of the major spines are green with a violet tip. The larger spines may have a light ring around the base. Size: Body up to 5 cm. Spines up to 3 cm.

Habitat:
Inhabits the reefs. Hides during the day, feeds during the night on algae.
Depth: ranges from 5 m down to 15 m.

Distribution:
Occasional all over the Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea
Genus Echinometra
Species Echinometra viridis

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Green rock-boring urchin [English]
Reef 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 Echinometra viridis on one of these Web sites:

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

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia