Related Images and Videos : View All
Related Stories
Biology at Axial Seam
Axial Seamount is the most volcanically active deep-sea volcano on the Juan de F ...
Brittle Stars
Brittle stars belong to Class Ophiuroidea, and have radial symmetry, with five sk ...
Sea Cucumbers
Class Holothuria consists of the somewhat humorous Sea Cucumbers
Echinoderms at Axial
HD Video of seastars, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, and urchins on Axial Seamoun ...
Echinoderms
Seastars, brittle stars, urchins, and sea cucumbers all belong to Phylum Echinode ...
Biology at Axial Vide
Each of the 8 taxonomic groups included in the Biology at Axial Seamount web pag ...
Sea Urchins
Sea Urchins belong to Class Echinoidea (Phylum Echinodermata).
Unknown Sea Urchin 1
This is easily the most common sea urchin found on Axial. It is often observed hiding among the lobed basalt lavas. Its size is only 10-15 cm in diameter.
Spiny Sea Urchin (Tromikosoma panamense)
The Tromikosoma panamense sea urchin has only been observed on a few occasions, and is not common at Axial. This specimen was seen at the base of Axial Seamount. The T. panamense has a hard armored shell, consisting of small plates covered in spines.
References:
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=513622
http://www.mbari.org/benthic/echinoids.html
