Venomous emperor sea urchin is one of the most ornate sea creatures

11 months ago
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Emperor sea urchins are inactive and nearly invisible by the light of day, but when the sun sets, they come out on the coral to to graze on the algae that grows there. Algae would overpower the coral if it were not kept in check by the animals that feed on it, such as sea urchins.
These emperor sea urchins were found on a night dive in the waters of Indonesia, near Komodo Island, the land known as the home of the largest and most deadly lizards in the world. The urchins are highly venomous to humans, inflicting a considerable wound and searing pain if they are handled or stepped on. Their light sensitivity allows them to sense a threat and angle their spines defensively. The bright colours and the large size make these urchins very obvious and accidental contact is uncommon.
The spines of the sea urchin are used for locomotion, as well as defense. The mouth of the sea urchin is on the underside, centrally located. Five sharp teeth converge in the centre of the mouth, allowing the urchin to scrape surfaces to remove coral. Emperor sea urchins are a sepctacular and welcome sight for scuba divers due to their colour and ornate appearance.

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