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Family: Cidaridae
Rock-boring Urchin
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: Coral reef in small crevices, in turtle grass beds, or under rocks and rubble in back reef lagoon areas. Distribution: North Carolina through Brazil, Panama Caribbean. Natural History Notes: Individuals in Panama tend to spawn monthly when the moon is full. Individuals reach sexual maturity at 2 years, their gonads are ripe in late summer and early fall, and the embryo develops from fertilized egg to metamorphosed juvenile in 25 days. E. tribuloides is omnivorous and diet varies with locality. Stomach contents include: algae, bryozoans, coral fragments, gastropod shells, echinoid spines, sponges, turtle grass. 6,000-8,000 urchins washed ashore in a die-off on the NW coast of Puerto Rico in 1984-5. Depth: 0-800m, but most commonly less than 50m. Characteristics: Small number of solid, thick, brown, cylindrical spines arranged in 10 vertical series. Overall diameter, including spines, can reach 130mm. Ground color of the test is light brown to red-brown. |