Taxonomy

Animalia

Echinodermata

Echinoidea

D. Diadematidae

Diadema

antillarum

Black Sea Urchin

From-the-Antilles Diadem

Diadema antillarum, also known as the lime urchin, black sea urchin, or the long-spined sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the Family Diadematidae.

This sea urchin is characterized by its exceptionally long black spines.

It is the most abundant and important herbivore on the coral reefs of the western Atlantic and Caribbean basin. When the population of these sea urchins is at a healthy level, they are the main grazers which prevent algae overgrowth of the reef.

Diadema antillarum. Retrieved May, 08 2021, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diadema_antillarum.