Tiny
maretia heart urchin
Maretia planulata*
Family Maretiidae
updated Jan 2020
Where
seen? Small ones are sometimes seen on Pulau Semakau, in sandy areas of
the coral rubble area.According to Lane, were collected subtidally
at Pulau Semakau by dredging. Other larger ones are sometimes seen
on Pulau Sekudu, usually only their skeletons and seldom, living ones.
Features: About 2cm, body oval
mostly white. The sparse long spines directed backwards and are banded
orange and white, while there are more white short spines. The petaloid
is brownish with brownish patches on the upperside. On the underside,
there is a pale orange patten of five petals around the mouth. |
Pulau Semakau, Feb 09 |
A few long banded spines, many more short spines. |
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This one seemed
to have popped out
of the sand, leaving a hole of the same shape.
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Side view.
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Underside.
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*ID needs confirmation.
Tiny
maretia heart urchins on Singapore shores |
Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Pulau Sekudu, May 12
Photo shared by James Koh on his
blog. |
|
Cyrene Reef, Apr 18
Photo shared by Liz Lim on facebook. |
Pulau Semakau, Feb 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his
blog.
|
Pulau Semakau South, Jan 20
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.
|
Pulau Berkas, Feb 22
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Links
- Maretia
on The
Echinoid Directory by Dr. Andrew B. Smith on the London Natural
History Museum website: everything you could possibly want to
know about heart urchins with lots of large close-up images and
explanatory diagrams. With technical descriptions of Order
Spatangoida
- Maretia
planulata on SeaLife Base: Technical fact sheet.
References
- Lane, David
J.W. and Didier Vandenspiegel. 2003. A
Guide to Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms of Singapore.
Singapore Science Centre. 187pp.
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