[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 Rock Boring Urchin or Purple Reef Urchin - Echinometra mathaei](http://mcr.lternet.edu/education/encyclopedia/images/Creature_Images/89.jpg)
Photo by Gerick Bergsma
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Indian and Western Pacific Oceans |
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Reef crest, reef flats and lagoons |
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Rock Boring Urchins feed on algae by scraping rocks and other hard surfaces with their five teeth. |
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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. |
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Coming Soon
- Moorea Biocode Database |