Parechinus
Sea urchin endemic to southern Africa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parechinus angulosus, the Cape urchin, is a sea urchin in the family Parechinidae endemic to southern Africa.[1][2] It is the only species in the genus Parechinus.[3]
| Parechinus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cape urchin at Partridge Point | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Echinoidea |
| Order: | Camarodonta |
| Family: | Parechinidae |
| Genus: | Parechinus Mortensen, 1903 |
| Species: | P. angulosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Parechinus angulosus (Leske, 1778) | |
Synonyms
- Cidaris angulosus Leske, 1778[2]
- Cidaris angulosus minor Leske, 1778[2]
- Echinus angulosus minor (Leske, 1778)[2]
- Echinus minimus Blainville, 1825[2]
- Echinus subangulosus Lamarck, 1816[2]
- Parechinus angulosus pallidus H.L. Clark[2]
- Parechinus annulatus (Mortensen, 1909)[2]
- Protocentrotus angulosus (Leske, 1778)[2]
- Protocentrotus annulatus Mortensen, 1909[2]
- Psammechinus subangulosus (Lamarck, 1816)[2]
Description
Distribution
Natural history
Grazes on seaweeds, and population density affects the rate of kelp settlement. Provides shelter for juvenile abalone Haliotis midae and is an important influence on kelp forest ecology. Abundant on flatter areas of rocky reefs in the Cape. Eaten by West coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii.[1][4]
Juvenile abalone and Urchins at A-Frame
Sea urchins and red cucumbers at Outer Castle
Small basket star and sea urchins at Kanobi's Reef
Urchins at Cleeves tunnel
Red colour morph
