Species profile
Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin
Diadema antillarum
Identify Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin (Diadema antillarum) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin (Diadema antillarum) is an echinoderm with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 276 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Florida.
Notable details
- Its spines can reach up to 30 cm (about 1 foot) long — among the longest of any sea urchin species.
- A 1983 disease outbreak killed over 93% of the entire Caribbean population within a single year.
- Strictly nocturnal: it hides in reef crevices by day and grazes on algae through the night.
- After the 1983 die-off, unchecked algae growth smothered large expanses of Caribbean coral reef.
- Hollow spines break off easily in skin and carry a mild venom, making accidental contact painful.
Where Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin are seen
Background
Diadema antillarum, also known as the lime urchin, black sea urchin, Grabaskey's bane or the long-spined sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the Family Diadematidae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin?
Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin (Diadema antillarum) is an echinoderm with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin?
Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin is Diadema antillarum.
Are there fishing rules for Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin?
Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Long-spined Sea Urchin along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.