Species profile
Collector Urchin
Tripneustes gratilla
Identify Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
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
Frequently asked questions
What is Collector Urchin?
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.
What is the scientific name for Collector Urchin?
Collector Urchin is Tripneustes gratilla.
Are there fishing rules for Collector Urchin?
Collector Urchin does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Collector Urchin?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Collector 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.