Anyone know what kind of urchin this is?

bimmer88

New member
Just bought this at the store.... Was told it was reef safe and warned not to touch it because it is venomous and has a potent sting... They told me it was a fire urchin but when i search fire urchins they look a completely differently color.... Just wondering if anyone know what type of urchin this one was and if they have any experience with them. Looks kind of like a tuxedo urchin in this pic but in person it looks a lot different... it's not round, but more flat... kinda like a cookie... it's about 4-5 inches long... picture is of the top side of it...
 

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looks like a blue tuxedo urchin, Yours looks like it might be missing spines ( may just be the photo ) If it is then you may have high copper levels or a unsteady salinty.

They are poisonous so handle with care, The only way the can sting you is if you jab your finger in it unlike the long spin urchin.
 
pin cushion, tuxedo, and halloween urchins are round.... this one is flat like a cookie... it does have spines but only along the edge and bottom.... the top side has no spines...
 
Here's another image i found of one in another thread... they weren't able to identify it in the other thread either...

<img src="http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=175148&d=1327510394">
 
here's another picture... not quite sure what you mean by squares.... they're just along the edge and bottom of the urchin... when i google search fire urchin it shows all of them being orange or red... i wasn't able to find a picture that matches this guy...
 

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For sure a species of fire urchin with the newest photo (Asthenosoma varium)

Be extremely careful with these guys as they can inflict serious pain, if i understand correctly even death.

Cool find that specimen is quite rare.
 
I recognize how the spines are arranged and how the spines fluoresce blue, definitely fire urchin. The color could come when he matures, but thats just a guess...
 
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