| Phyllacanthus imperialis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Echinoidea |
| Order: | Cidaroida |
| Family: | Cidaridae |
| Genus: | Phyllacanthus |
| Species: | P. imperialis |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllacanthus imperialis | |
| Synonyms | |
Phyllacanthus imperialis, also known as theSputnik urchin,imperial lance urchin,imperial sea urchin,imperial urchin,pencil sea urchin,lance urchin,knobby sputnik sea urchin,mine urchin, andland mine sea urchin, is a species ofsea urchins in the familyCidaridae.[2]
It has distinctive thick, blunt spikes. Thetest is brown or black. The spikes vary in color. This species emerges at night to eat invertebrates and sponges.[3] During the day, it tends to remain hidden in holes in the coral reef.Phyllacanthus imperialis is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region.[4]