The Diadem Urchin
COMMON NAME IN FRENCH: oursin-diadème à anneau orange or oursin-diadème commun ENGLISH NAME: Diadem urchin, long-spine urchin, porcupine sea urchin, needle-spined urchin
LATINE NAME: Diadema setosum
FAMILY: Diadematidae
In the exhibition: the diadem urchin can be viewed in the Biodiversity Area, after the Tropical Lagoon.
Geographic distribution: the Diadem Urchin is found in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, including Reunion Island and Mayotte, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, in the Pacific Ocean as far east as Polynesia, and from the south of Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. Today, it can also be found in the eastern Mediterranean (Israel, Turkey) probably as a result of larvae being transported through the Suez Canal.
Habitat: it inhabits lagoons, on rocks and on sand areas close to coral reefs sometimes as deep as 70 m but mostly in shallow waters of between 1 and 25 m depth. It can also be found in sea grass beds and in disturbed areas where dead coral is abundant.
Motion: it moves around easily using its tube feet (2 fois 5 rangées) and suction pads to cling to the substrate.
Diet: it feeds on fouling algae and other organic matter.
Size: 10 cm.
Threats and protective measures: the titan triggerfish is one of the diadem urchin’s few predators.The Diadem Urchin will often, especially during the day, try to form a pack as a defensive strategy to thwart predators.It is not currently listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: tiny gobies, cardinalfish, shrimps and even jelly-fish of the genus Coeloplana can be found camouflaged between their radioles.The Pterapogon kauderni, a threatened species of fish listed in CITES Appendix II, can also be found sheltering among its spines. Source: Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, The Hague, (Netherlands), 3 – 15 June 2007 http://www.cites.org/fra/cop/14/prop/F14-P19.pdf This “walking and highly sought-after shelter offers a model of community living”.
Resilience: the diadem Urchin will often, especially during the day, try to form a pack as a defensive strategy to thwart predators.
Services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: sea urchin sex pheromones or peptides (Sperm Activating Peptides, abbreviated as “SAP” or “speract”) have long been studied, especially those of the diadem urchin Diadema setosum. This echinoderm can also be used as a bioindicator for toxicity and the bioaccumulation of heavy metals. In 2002 it was used by Chantier Nouvelle-Calédonie to study the transfer of heavy metals in the food chain. Source: Chantier Nouvelle-Calédonie Summary of Activities, 1999-2002 http://www.coreus.ird.fr/pnec/documents/chantier_pnec_nc.pdf
Geographic distribution: the Diadem Urchin is found in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, including Reunion Island and Mayotte, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, in the Pacific Ocean as far east as Polynesia, and from the south of Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. Today, it can also be found in the eastern Mediterranean (Israel, Turkey) probably as a result of larvae being transported through the Suez Canal.
Habitat: it inhabits lagoons, on rocks and on sand areas close to coral reefs sometimes as deep as 70 m but mostly in shallow waters of between 1 and 25 m depth. It can also be found in sea grass beds and in disturbed areas where dead coral is abundant.
Motion: it moves around easily using its tube feet (2 fois 5 rangées) and suction pads to cling to the substrate.
Diet: it feeds on fouling algae and other organic matter.
Size: 10 cm.
Threats and protective measures: the titan triggerfish is one of the diadem urchin’s few predators.The Diadem Urchin will often, especially during the day, try to form a pack as a defensive strategy to thwart predators.It is not currently listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: tiny gobies, cardinalfish, shrimps and even jelly-fish of the genus Coeloplana can be found camouflaged between their radioles.The Pterapogon kauderni, a threatened species of fish listed in CITES Appendix II, can also be found sheltering among its spines. Source: Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, The Hague, (Netherlands), 3 – 15 June 2007 http://www.cites.org/fra/cop/14/prop/F14-P19.pdf This “walking and highly sought-after shelter offers a model of community living”.
Resilience: the diadem Urchin will often, especially during the day, try to form a pack as a defensive strategy to thwart predators.
Services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: sea urchin sex pheromones or peptides (Sperm Activating Peptides, abbreviated as “SAP” or “speract”) have long been studied, especially those of the diadem urchin Diadema setosum. This echinoderm can also be used as a bioindicator for toxicity and the bioaccumulation of heavy metals. In 2002 it was used by Chantier Nouvelle-Calédonie to study the transfer of heavy metals in the food chain. Source: Chantier Nouvelle-Calédonie Summary of Activities, 1999-2002 http://www.coreus.ird.fr/pnec/documents/chantier_pnec_nc.pdf
SOURCES
Books:
W. BAUMEISTER. Guide de la faune sous-marine. Mer Rouge et Océan Indien. Tome 1 : Les Invertébrés. Ed. Ulmer, 1997.
J.-M. KORNPROBST. Sustances naturelles d’origine marine. Chimiodiversité – Pharmacodiversité –Biotechnologies. Tome 2 : Invertébrés – Vertébrés. Ed.Tec&Doc/Lavoisier, 2005
Collectif. Océan. Encyclopédie universelle. Ed. Geo/Gallimard, 2006
Article:
J.C. GRIGNARD, D. VANDENSPIEGEL, I. EECKHAUT. L'Oursin diadème : abri convoité et modèles de vies associatives. Océanorama, n°29, décembre 1998, pp 3-9
Websites:
DORIS :
Source : Quatorzième session de la Conférence des Parties - La Haye (Pays-Bas), 3 – 15 juin 2007
Source : Chantier Nouvelle-Calédonie Résumé des activités 1999-2002
Photos Pauline BINCTEUX
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