Rainbow Fire Urchin – Astropyga radiata

These urchins have magnificent coloration, but they can deliver a powerfully painful and venomous sting. This urchin is also known as the Radiating Hatpin Urchin, and the spines are long and sharp, constantly moving, and irregularly distributed. These spines are usually banded in orange and white, darkening to red towards the tips. There are radiating rows of electric blue dots that decorate the body.

In the wild, these urchins play host to a variety of other organisms including commensal shrimp, crabs, and cardinalfish that find solace from predators within the urchins’ spines during daylight hours. This fascinating relationship must be a sight to see!

Use extreme caution to avoid contact with this urchin. Must stings comes from accidental contact with the urchin because the aquarist was not aware where it was in the aquarium. Medical attention may be necessary if stung by this urchin.