This fire urchin species is quite spectacular with tufts of short spines that can inflict extreme pain if brushed against. Asthenosoma ijimai is especially interesting in that it has a soft, rubbery skeleton called a “flexible test” quite different from the normal rigid test of other urchins. Besides being known as fire urchins they are also known as “leather urchins”. This one was around 8” (20cm) in diameter.
4 May 2019