Centrostephanus longispinus
Centrostephanus longispinus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Echinoidea |
Order: | Diadematoida |
Family: | Diadematidae |
Genus: | Centrostephanus |
Species: | C. longispinus
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Binomial name | |
Centrostephanus longispinus | |
Subspecies | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Centrostephanus longispinus, the hatpin urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the family Diadematidae. There are two subspecies, Centrostephanus l. longispinus, found in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea and Centrostephanus l. rubricingulus, found in the western Atlantic.[1][2]
Taxonomy
In 1940, Mortenson believed that C. longispinus and C. rubicingulus were closely related species but that they could be distinguished because C. longispinus has smaller and fewer secondary interambulacral tubercles. In 1975, Fell re-examined the genus but was unable to find sufficient differences to justify separating them into two species. He suggested that C. rubicingulus should be considered a sub-species of C. longispinus. Nor could he reliably distinguish the pair from C. besnardi except by the location from which they had been collected (C. besnardi is from the eastern Pacific). He was also unable to distinguish between juveniles of C. coronatus and juveniles of the other species.[2]
Description
Centrostephanus longispinus has a small central test and spines up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. These are toxic and can cause a painful sting.[3] The spines are of varying length and are mobile and used for locomotion. There are a number of club-shaped spines on the oral (lower) surface, a characteristic that this species shares with C. besnardi and C. coronatus but not other members of the genus. These spines are reddish brown and are tipped with purple or pink pigment. The subspecies C. l. longispinus has spines banded in purple on a pale green, buff or whitish background. Juvenile C. l. rubricingulus have reddish-brown spines on a pale background while adults have either spines banded in brown on pale brown or uniformly dark-colored spines.[2] It has been shown that C. longispinus has chromatophores (pigment bearing structures in cells) which are sensitive to light. By changing their shape, these alter the color of the animal, which is changed from a night-time black to a daytime greyish brown.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Centrostephanus longispinus occurs on the
Biology
Examination of the contents of this urchin's stomach have shown that C. longispinus largely feeds on several species of red algae. At times of year when this is not available it probably eats small invertebrate prey. In the laboratory they will feed on the seagrass Thalassia testudinum and may attack the starfish Narcissia trigonaria if hungry enough.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Hansson, Hans (2012). "Centrostephanus longispinus (Philippi, 1845)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
- ^ a b c d e Pawson, David L & Miller, John E. (1983). "Systematics and ecology of the sea-urchin genus Centrostephanus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) from the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences. 20: 1–15.
- ^ "Centrostephanus longispinus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
- PMID 4831958.