Eucidaris thouarsii

Slate pencil urchin
Eucidaris (thouarsii) galapagensis on Santiago Island, Galápagos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Subclass: Perischoechinoidea
Order: Cidaroida
Family: Cidaridae
Genus: Eucidaris
Species: E. thouarsii
Binomial name
Eucidaris thouarsii
(L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846)

The slate pencil urchin, Eucidaris thouarsii, is a cidaroid sea urchin that inhabits littoral regions of the East Pacific Ocean.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

E. thouarsii is found in the East Pacific at depths of 0–45 m (0–148 ft), ranging from Baja California to Panama, as well as Cocos Island, Clipperton Island and the Galápagos Islands.[3][4][5] The Galápagos, Clipperton and Cocos populations are now often recognized as a separate species, E. galapagensis, instead of a subspecies of E. thouarsii.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia of Life. "Details for: Eucidaris thouarsii". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  2. ↑ Kroh, A. & Mooi, R. "Details for: Eucidaris thouarsii". World Echinoidea Database. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  3. ↑ Glynn, Wellington, and Birkeland (1979). Coral reef growth in the Galapagos: limitation by sea urchins. Science. 203(4375): 47-49.
  4. ↑ Natural History Museum: Eucidaris thouarsii. The Echinoid Directory. Retrieved 11 Septemember 2014.
  5. ↑ Reyes-Bonilla, and Calderon-Aguilera (2002). Population Density, Distribution and Consumption Rates of Three Corallivores at Cabo Pulmo Reef, Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Ecology 20(3-4).
  6. ↑ Lessios, Kessing, Robertson, and Paulay (1999). Phylogeography of the pantropical sea urchin Eucidaris in relation to land barriers and ocean currents. Evolution 53: 806-817.

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