Variegated urchin
Lytechinus variegatus
(Leske, 1778)
Description:
The body of this species is round in outline. Densely covered with short spines. The spines may part somewhat to form apparent grooves along the major plates. The color of the animal is usually green and white, but may be variable. Especially the tips of the primary spines can be pink or red.
Size: Body up to 7 cm. Spines up to 2 cm.
Habitat:
Typically lives in seagrass beds. It feeds among other things on turtle grass. The animal can hold loose leaves of the sea grass on top with its tube feet for camouflage.
Depth: ranges from 1 m down to 17 m.
Distribution:
Common all over the Caribbean.