Friday, February 27, 2009

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)

Rock Boring Urchin or Purple Reef Urchin - Echinometra mathaei
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Distribution
Indian and Western Pacific Oceans

Habitat
Reef crest, reef flats and lagoons

Diet
Rock Boring Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.

Quick Fact
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.

Learn More
Coming Soon
- Moorea Biocode Database

Nudibranchs

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

Nudibranchs
(Suborder Nudibranchia)

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.

Distribution
Nudibranchs are found world-wide

Habitat
Nudibranchs are found on almost any marine habitat

Diet
Most nudibranchs are specialist carnivores, preferring sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, tunicates or mollusks (including other nudibranchs).

Quick Fact
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.

Learn More
- 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)

Collector Urchin or Decorator Urchin - Tripneustes gratilla
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Distribution
Found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, as far east as Hawaii

Habitat
Throughout reef flats and lagoons

Diet
Collector Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.

Quick Fact
Collector urchins cover themselves with algae, rubble and debris, possibly as camouflage.

Learn More
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)

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.

Distribution
Banded Sea Urchins are found throughout the Indopacific.

Habitat
Inhabit reef flats and lagoons.

Diet
Banded Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth.

Quick Fact
Small fish (often cardinalfish) frequently hide among banded urchin spines for protection.

Learn More
Coming Soon
- Moorea Biocode Database