Echinothuriid Sea Urchin

Echinothuriid Sea Urchin (Tromikosoma panamense)

This deep sea, purple sea urchin (possibly Tromikosoma panamense) was seen at the base of Axial.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14

The Tromikosoma panamense sea urchin has been seen at the base of Axial Seamount (2600 meters) and at the Oregon Slope Base site (2900 meters). These Echinothuriid urchins have a weakly calcified, more leathery test than most urchins. They are deposit feeders, moving over the sediment feeding on material that has settled onto the seafloor from the water column above, leaving distinctive tracks behind as they move on their tube feet.

References:
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=513622
http://www.mbari.org/benthic/echinoids.html

 

This deep sea, purple spiny sea urchin (possibly Tromikosoma panamense) was seen at the base of Axial.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14
This deep sea, purple spiny sea urchin (possibly Tromikosoma panamense) was seen at the base of Axial.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14
An echinothuriid sea urchin encountered following the wire during a survey of the cable lay by ROPOS. A Venus Flytrap Anemone can be seen in the lower right quadrant. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive 1734; V14.
An echinothuriid sea urchin encountered following the wire during a survey of the cable lay by ROPOS. A Venus Flytrap Anemone can be seen in the lower right quadrant. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive 1734; V14.
An echinothuriid sea urchin at Slope Base during the 2022 recovery of the MJ01A junction box. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R2250, V22.
An echinothuriid sea urchin at Slope Base during the 2022 recovery of the MJ01A junction box. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R2250, V22.
J2-1608 Good.sm. urchin brittle star 20240810_032928_Sulis1080 copy 2
A sea urchin (Tromikosoma panamense) with white little toes on the ends of their legs is alongside a brittle star and small shrimp at Slope Base (2900 m water depth). Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1608, V24.
A large sea urchin at Slope Base (2900 m) is adjacent to a small squat lobster. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1523; V23.
A large sea urchin at Slope Base (2900 m) is adjacent to a small squat lobster. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; J2-1523; V23.
A brisingid starfish, orange anemone, and a soft-bodied echinothuriid sea urchin (the purple guy at bottom), clustered around a junction in the OOI electro-optical cable. 2900 meters depth, off the coast of Oregon. Photo credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1182, V19
A brisingid starfish, orange anemone, and a soft-bodied echinothuriid sea urchin (the purple guy at bottom), clustered around a junction in the OOI electro-optical cable. 2900 meters depth, off the coast of Oregon. Photo credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, Dive J2-1182, V19