Palmer’s Urchin, Fiery Sea Urchin, Palmer’s Sea Urchin – Diadema palmeri

, Palmer’s Urchin, Fiery Sea Urchin, Palmer's Sea Urchin, Diadema palmeri
Depth: 10 - 60 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

Diadema palmeri, commonly known as Palmer’s Urchin, Fiery Sea Urchin, or Palmer’s Sea Urchin, is a species of sea urchin belonging to the family Diadematidae. This species is characterized by its distinctive appearance and plays a significant role in the marine ecosystem.

Description & Characteristics

Diadema palmeri is a large sea urchin, with individuals reaching a maximum size of around 10 cm in diameter. Its body is covered in long, sharp spines, which are typically black or dark brown in color. The spines of Diadema palmeri are hollow and filled with a venomous substance that can cause a painful sting. The urchin’s body is also adorned with small, delicate pedicellariae, which are claw-like structures used for defense and feeding.

Habitat and Occurrence

Diadema palmeri is found in a variety of marine habitats, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds. It prefers shallow water environments, typically occurring in depths ranging from a few meters to about 30 meters. This sea urchin is primarily found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, extending from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Its distribution includes various marine zones, such as the neritic zone, which encompasses the waters above the continental shelf, and the epipelagic zone, the sunlit surface layer of the open ocean.

Taxonomy

Diadema palmeri is classified within the Class Echinoidea, which includes all sea urchins. It belongs to the Order Diadematoida, a group of sea urchins with long, sharp spines. This species is further categorized under the Family Diadematidae, a family known for their venomous spines.

Feeding

Diadema palmeri is a herbivore, primarily feeding on algae. Its feeding habits play a vital role in maintaining the health of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. By grazing on algae, Diadema palmeri helps to prevent the overgrowth of algae, which can smother coral reefs and other benthic organisms.

Associated Species

Image References

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