Long-spined urchin
Diadema antillarum
(Philippi, 1845)
Description:
Easily recognized by the numerous long, dark purple to black spines. Sometimes also grayish-white spines are present. The young may have banded spines.
Size: Body up to 10 cm. Spines up to 20 cm.
Habitat:
Lives on coral reefs, flats, rubble etc. They hide during the day and feed on algae during the night.
Depth: ranges from 0 m down to 40 m.
Distribution:
Abundant to common all over the Caribbean.
Remarks:
The finely barbed spines easily penetrate skin and break off, causing infections and painful wounds.