Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Three of a Kind: What?? They're all the SAME??

An interesting fact!

DID YOU KNOW:
That THIS: Colobocentrotus atratus
colobocentrotus atratus, kanekanaka point, hapuna beach state park, south kohala district, hawaii county, hawaii 1


THIS... Red Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus)
Red Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) b&w&r

AND THIS...
Echinometra mathaei, Waiopae Tide Pools, Hawaii County, Hawaii 1

ALL actually all members of the SAME Family!! (i.e., the same group)-the ECHINOMETRIDAE.  Here are all their tests (their skeletons for comparison).  Note how these all have that oblong, almost bilateral shape to them.

Colobocentrotus atratus
https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colobocentrotus_atratus#/media/File:Colobocentrotus_atratus_MHNT_Bali_Test.jpg
Heterocentrotus mammillatus
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heterocentrotus_mamillatus_test_aboral.JPG
Echinometra mathaei
Erizo de mar (Echinometra mathaei)

Its all about the spines! They all vary with habitat! Evolution is a wonderous thing! 

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