Sealife guideThe Diadematidae familyThe taxonomy of marine species
Explore the taxonomy of marine echinoderms with a dedicated focus on starfish and sea urchins !
The class Echinoidea, commonly known as sea urchins, are marine animals characterized by a spherical or slightly flattened body, often protected by rigid spines. These animals, usually small in size, move slowly along the seafloor using tube feet and their internal skeleton is made up of fused calcareous plates.

Hatpin sea urchin
(Centrostephanus longispinus)
(Centrostephanus longispinus)

Long-spined sea urchin
(Diadema antillarum)
(Diadema antillarum)
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Friday, September 5th 2025
The bump-head sunfish
Learn about the bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini), the world's heaviest bony fish, its habitat in tropical and temperate oceans, diet of jellyfish, deep-water behavior and record size over 6,000 lbs.

Wednesday, September 3rd 2025
The chocolate chip sea cucumber
The chocolate chip sea cucumber has a massive cylindrical body that is beige in color, covered with a set of dark brown pustules resembling chocolate chips that protrude slightly from the surface, giving it a resemblance to a cookie, hence its french name. It can reach a length of about 12 inches when fully grown.

Monday, September 1st 2025
The red hind grouper
The red hind grouper has a distinctive appearance, usually beige to brown in color, with numerous red or brown spots covering its entire body and the base of its fins. It is often found in the shallow waters of coral reefs and rocky areas, where it hides in crevices and cavities.
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Tortue de mer imbriquée
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
(Eretmochelys imbricata)