Pseudoboletia indiana, commonly known as the pebble collector urchin, is a species of echinoderms belonging to the family Taxopneustidae.[1] In Hawaii P. indiana is also known as hawa`e po`ohina.[2]

Pseudoboletia indiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Order: Camarodonta
Family: Toxopneustidae
Genus: Pseudoboletia
Species:
P. indiana
Binomial name
Pseudoboletia indiana

Description

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Pseudoboletia indiana has a white round body with short spikes, variously colored white, pink, purple, or green at the ends.[3] Pseudoboletia indiana is on average around 5 in (130 mm) in diameter.[4]

Distribution

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The pebble collector urchin can be found in Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island, and Madagascar.[5]

Habitat

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Pseudoboletia indiana lives on the ocean floor, at up to 100 m (330 ft) in depth.[5] The urchin uses debris from the ocean, such as pebbles, broken pieces or coral, seaweed, to cover itself.[2] The urchin also provides protection to other smaller marine life like the miner’s urchin shrimp (Gnathophylloides mineri).[4] During the night, the urchin will abandon the pebbles and coral it uses as camouflage and will roam around.[6]

References

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  1. ^ WoRMS. "Pseudoboletia indiana (Michelin, 1862)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  2. ^ a b "Pebble Collector Urchin". hbs.bishopmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  3. ^ Zigler, Kirk S; Byrne, Maria; Raff, Elizabeth C; Lessios, H. A.; Raff, Rudolf A. (2012-04-10). "Natural hybridization in the sea urchin genus Pseudoboletia between species without apparent barriers to gamete recognition". Evolution. 66 (6): 1695–1708. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01609.x. ISSN 0014-3820. PMID 22671540.
  4. ^ a b "Pebble-collector Urchin, Pseudoboletia indiana". www.marinelifephotography.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  5. ^ a b "Pseudoboletia indiana". www.sealifebase.se. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  6. ^ Hoover, John (1998). Hawaii's Sea Creatures: A Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates. Mutual Pub. ISBN 9781566472203.