Centrostephanus longispinus
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| 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 |
| 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]
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]