Long-spined black urchin (Diadema setosum)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Diadema setosum
- Common name
- Long-spined black urchin
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Diadematidae
- Genus
- Diadema
- Size
- 10–25 cm
- Depth
- 0–70 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal, venomous
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean
Description
Diadema setosum reaches 25 cm with spines (10 cm test). Black urchin with extremely thin, sharp and fragile long spines containing powerful venom (caution diving, painful). Distinctive feature: 5 iridescent blue-white points and bright orange ring circling the dorsal test. Lives from 0 to 70 m on coral and rocky reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Listed LC. Nocturnal, grazes algae. Key herbivore for algal cover control of reefs (like D. antillarum in Caribbean). Often in dense aggregations. Cautious-distance photo subject.
Photo of Long-spined black urchin
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Long-spined black urchin?
- Long-spined black urchin (Diadema setosum) reaches 10–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Long-spined black urchin?
- Long-spined black urchin is found between 0–70 m deep.
- Is the Long-spined black urchin dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Long-spined black urchin?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Long-spined black urchin?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Diadema
Other species in the family Diadematidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 213372)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5721108)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia