Purple Reef Urchin

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Rock Boring Urchin or Purple Reef Urchin
(Echinometra mathaei)

Photo by Gerick Bergsma

	Indian and Western Pacific Oceans
	Reef crest, reef flats and lagoons
	Rock Boring Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.
	Purple reef urchins are frequently found in small round holes dug into the coral rock.  The urchins bore these holes by grinding away the limestone using their spines and teeth.
	Coming Soon - Moorea Biocode Database

Nudibranchs

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Nudibranchs
(Suborder Nudibranchia)

Photo by Gerick Bergsma

There are thousands of species of nudibranchs broken into two main types.  The dorid nudibranchs are distinguished by the cluster of feather-like “branchial plumes” (gills) on their backs.  The aeolid nudibranchs lack the clustered branchial plumes, but instead have larger cerata all along their backs.

	Nudibranchs are found world-wide
	Nudibranchs are found on almost any marine habitat
	Most nudibranchs are specialist carnivores, preferring sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, tunicates or mollusks (including other nudibranchs).
	Nudibranchs often get more than just nutrition from their prey.  For example, nudibranchs that feed on cnidarians (eg. anemones) are able to consume their prey without triggering their nematocytes (stinging cells), and can then integrate the stinging cells into their own tissues to use for in defense.  Similarly, other nudibranchs are able to acquire photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) from their prey, enabling them to gain energy from sunlight.  One species has gone even further, incorporating chloroplasts directly from algae to become the only known animal to directly photosynthesize.
	- Sea Slug Forum - Moorea Biocode Database

Collector Urchin

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Collector Urchin or Decorator Urchin
(Tripneustes gratilla)

Photo by Gerick Bergsma

	Found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, as far east as Hawaii
	Throughout reef flats and lagoons
	Collector Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.
	Collector urchins cover themselves with algae, rubble and debris, possibly as camouflage.
	Coming Soon - Moorea Biocode Database

Banded Urchin

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Banded Urchin or Double-spined Urchin
(Echinothrix calamaris)

Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Banded urchins are distinguishable by their two types of spines.  Long, stout spines alternate with shorter, sharp spines that easily puncture skin.

	Banded Sea Urchins are found throughout the Indopacific.
	Inhabit reef flats and lagoons.
	Banded Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.
	Small fish (often cardinalfish) frequently hide among banded urchin spines for protection.
	Coming Soon - Moorea Biocode Database