Tripneustes gratilla
Taxonomical systematics
Scientific name
Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common names
Collector Urchin,
Genus
Tripneustes
Family
Toxopneustidae
Order
Temnopleuroida
Class
Echinoidea
Phylum
Echinodermata
Local ecology
Distribution
Oceania, Tropical Western Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Northern and Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea. (Found in Sydney)
Habitat
Sheltered and moderatley exposed reef (Edgar, 2000).
Biological characteristics
Maximum size
12cm Diameter
Tripneustes gratilla in the aquarium.
Tripneustes gratilla in the aquarium.
Tripneustes gratilla in the aquarium.
A Tripneustes gratilla collected from Shelly Beach, Manly in the aquarium.
Close-up of Tripneustes gratilla in the aquarium.
Under side of Tripneustes gratilla in the aquarium.
The work of Tripneustes gratilla on sandstone rocks in the aquarium.
Captive care
Feeding
Eats various types of algae off rocks and glass.
References
Edgar G.J. 2000. Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters. New Holand, Sydney. 528pp.
Links
http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/marlife/inverts/echinoid.htm