Species profile
Collector Urchin
Tripneustes gratilla
At a glance
Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) is an echinoderm present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 1,020 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Notable details
- Collector Urchins actively pick up shells, algae, and debris and hold them over their bodies as camouflage.
- They can reach about 15 centimeters (6 inches) in diameter.
- Found across the Indo-Pacific and Hawaiian waters, they are important grazers of seagrass beds.
- Their roe is edible and harvested commercially in parts of their range.
- Their relatively short spines make them far safer to handle than long-spined urchins like Diadema.
Where Collector Urchin are seen
Background
The collector urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) is a species of sea urchin. Collector urchins are found at depths of 2 to 30 metres (7 to 100 ft) in the waters of the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, the Red Sea, and The Bahamas. They can reach 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 in) in size.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Collector Urchin article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other starfish/urchins/cucumbers on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.