U is for Urchin – part deux – in color

tropical sea urchins

Pyllacanthus imperialis – Imperial Pencil Urchin

Echinometra mathaei – Matha’s Sea Urchin

 Mesplia globula – Jewel Case Sea Urchin

Tagalog/Tagbanua: Tayong

There is a lovely variety of colorful  sea urchins with all lengths and sizes of spines in the Coral Triangle. The Imperial Pencil Urchin is a dramatic orange maroon, Matha’s Sea Urchin has brown white tipped spines like a hedgehog and the Jewel case urchin has a vibrant royal blue that shines within the sea grass beds.