Eucidaris galapagensis
Identification.
Thick, blunt, pencil-like spines, unlike the thin sharp spines of other urchin species.
Galápagos context.
One of three urchin species that together make up 91% of all sea urchin biomass in Galapagos.
Encounter context.
A nocturnal grazer that emerges at dusk specifically to avoid daytime predators like hogfish, triggerfish and sea stars. Each spine cluster can host 20 or more other species as epifauna.
Seasonality.
Present year-round; resilient to short-term El Nino temperature swings.