Parechinus angulosus

Parechinus angulosus, the Cape urchin, is a sea urchin in the family Parechinidae endemic to southern Africa.[1][2]

Parechinus angulosus
Purple colour morph
Cape urchin at Partridge Point
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Echinoidea
Order:
Camarodonta
Family:
Parechinidae
Genus:
Parechinus
Species:
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

Test round, diameter up to 60 mm, with a dense covering of short sharp spines which do not exceed 20% of test diameter. Test colour usually green, spines purple, but also green, red or off-white.[1][3]

Distribution

Lüderitz to Durban, intertidal to about 100 m.[3]

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][3]

  • Juvenile abalone and Urchins at A-Frame
    Juvenile abalone and Urchins at A-Frame
  • Sea urchins and red cucumbers at Outer Castle
    Sea urchins and red cucumbers at Outer Castle
  • Small basket star and sea urchins at Kanobi's Reef
    Small basket star and sea urchins at Kanobi's Reef
  • Urchins at Cleeves tunnel
    Urchins at Cleeves tunnel
  • Red colour morph
    Red colour morph

References
  1. Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L.; Griffiths, C.L.; Beckley, L.E. (2010). Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. ISBN 978 1 77007 772 0.
  2. Kroh, A. & Mooi, R. (2019). World Echinoidea Database. Parechinus angulosus (Leske, 1778). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=220995 on 2019-01-22
  3. Jones, Georgina (2008). A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Town: SURG. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9.


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