Hi, my fiancee and I were out on the beach today and saw this wierd sea urchin type creature, but i couldnt figure out what it was for the life of me. Any one have any ideas? heres the pic:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/nafogel/P1010647.jpg
2007-12-19 18:07:24 · 6 answers · asked by nafogel 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Hi, my fiancee and I were out on the beach today and saw this wierd sea urchin type creature, but i couldnt figure out what it was for the life of me. Any one have any ideas? heres the pic:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/nafogel/P1010647.jpg
*Edit-
I found it in a tide pool along North Shores, Hawaii, and the creature was probably about 3 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter
2007-12-20 11:02:12 · update #1
That sea urchin-type creature you found IS in fact a sea urchin. It is a sea urchin called the shingle urchin, sometimes called a helmet urchin, scientific name Colobocentrotus atratus. It does kind of look like a starfish with "arms" protruding from its body (the "test"), but those "arms" are in fact spines (though not the ones typical of most sea urchins) that overlap like shingles on a roof. Hence the name "shingle urchin". They are native to Hawaii and are called ha'uke'uke over there.
Here are some pictures of these unusual creatures that I found for you:
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/echinoderms/urchins/urchins.htm (scroll down to where it says Colobocentrotus atratus)
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchstars.html
2007-12-21 10:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by xx_villainess_xx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a type of Starfish, I'm not sure what is the name of this species.
If you could be more specific on it's size and the area where this creature is located, I could probably give you more definitive answer, or some one will be able to.
Edit
This species has the look of a sea urchin shell, but I think it is mostly related to Comb Sea Star.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_sea_star
2007-12-20 02:42:46 · answer #2 · answered by spacetrooper50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be a multi-armed starfish called a Heliaster. Sea urchins and starfish are related, which may explain the resemblance to a sea urchin. Try Googling Heliaster for starters.
2007-12-20 07:07:47 · answer #3 · answered by Crocodile Jim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I looked all over the web and couldn't find anything close.But it does look like some sort of sea urchin.
sorry I couldn't be more help.
2007-12-20 02:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it looks like some kind of starfish, they come in many shapes and sizes. how long was it out of the water? reason, I think it has changed color.
2007-12-20 06:02:04 · answer #5 · answered by d.harris37 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it looks like a seabiscuit. It's related to the sand dollar
2007-12-20 14:52:34 · answer #6 · answered by Amandaroo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋