Sea egg
Tripneustes ventricosus
(Lamarck, 1816)
Description:
This species is the largest urchin in the area. It is easily recognized because the spines are short and white, whereas the body is dark brown, dark purple or even black.
Size: Body up to 15 cm. Spines up to 2 cm.
Habitat:
Found in seagrass beds and the shallower reefs. It uses seagrass leaves and all kinds of debris to camouflage itself.
Depth: ranges from 0 m down to 10 m.
Distribution:
Common to uncommon all over the Caribbean.
Remarks:
The eggs (roe) is eaten locally, but this can greatly reduces the number of animals.