Asthenosoma varium (Variable fire urchin)

Identification

Uniform arrangement of tightly packed spine clusters, variable in color and length on red spherical body, venom-tipped spines with globular swellings below the tip, long thin yellow spines on the lower skirt.

Status

Habitat

Indo-West Pacific: from Indonesia to Australia, New Caledonia to Japan. It lives on sand and rubble bottoms in a depth of 10-70 meters.

Reproduction

Size

In diameter up to 22cm.

Prey / Predation

They feed on algae, seaweed and detritus.

Special features

The venomous spines can inflict painful wounds, do not touch! It may also host a species of shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) and crab (Zebrida adamsii), so close observation may pay off.