The rock boring urchin
COMMON NAME IN FRENCH: oursin-pierre or oursin Echinometra mathaei. The genus name Echinometra means perforating urchin.ENGLISH NAME: rock boring urchin
LATIN NAME: Echinometra mathaei
FAMILY: Echinometridae. The rock boring urchin belongs to the Echinoderm group (the term means skin with spines).
In the exhibition: the rock boring urchin can be viewed in the Biodiversity Zone, after the Tropical Lagoon.
Geographic distribution: the rock boring urchin is distributed widely in the Indian and western Pacific oceans (tropical and sub-tropical zones) and along the entire length of the eastern coast of Africa from South Africa to Somalia and also in the Red Sea.
Habitat : it inhabits depths between one and eight metres. During the day, it hides under rocks on coral reef flats and exploits hiding places in the rugged coral reefscape. It bores holes in the limestone-rock and sometimes, it seems, even in the coral itself.
Description: its test (its mineralised shell) can take various forms (long, narrow, elliptical, almost circular…). Its colour can range from dark brown to olive green to violet and redish-brown. Its radioles (spines) can be grey, brown or even creme and are often white at the tips.
Diet: the rock boring urchin ventures out at night to feed on a variety of fouling organisms such as coral or certain algae.
Size: with its radioles (spines), it is about 8 cm in diametre. Its spines can vary in length but are generally about half the test (shell) circumference/height in length.
Threats and protective measures:this urchin is not on the IUCN’s list of endangered species.
Resilience: overall, “Echinoderm distribution is similar to that of the most important ancient and successful groups”. Ocean currents have played a major role in their dispersal. Urchin larvae are pelagic (i.e. they inhabit the water column) and their young are able to float or attach themselves to seaweed.
Services provided to humanity: services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: Echinometra mathaei have a high carotenoids content (yellow and orange liposoluble pigments which are readily absorbed by our bodies).In general terms carotenoids have a range of effects: antioxydant, provitamin A activity, modulation of lipo-oxygenase activity and activation of gene expression.
Source: Un caroténoïde chasse l'autre / T. DR GIBAULT in APRIFLASH, N° 01/04/2000 (01/04/2000)
http://abiodoc.docressources.fr/opac/index.php?lvl=categ_see&id=6888
Their colouring, antioxydant, and photoprotective properties mean that some of them are used in the agri-food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. For example, suntan lotions and dietary supplements providing protection to the skin from the sun all contain a variety of carotenoid.
Business and industry sources:
http://www.oenobiol.com/dossier-articles/dossier-solaire/a-chaque-carotenoide-sa-specificite.html
http://www.fleurancenature.fr/actif-carotenoides.asp“
Today we know that antioxydant vitamins such as vitamins C, E and carotenoids play a preventative role in heart-disease and cancer in humans.”
Source: Résumé de la fiche pour Qualité des tomates : une comparaison des types traditionnels, mid life et long life - Premiers résultats / A. GRANGES in REVUE SUISSE DE VITICULTURE ARBORICULTURE HORTICULTURE, N° Vol. 27, n° 5 (01/10/1995)
http://abiodoc.docressources.fr/opac/index.php?lvl=more_results
Geographic distribution: the rock boring urchin is distributed widely in the Indian and western Pacific oceans (tropical and sub-tropical zones) and along the entire length of the eastern coast of Africa from South Africa to Somalia and also in the Red Sea.
Habitat : it inhabits depths between one and eight metres. During the day, it hides under rocks on coral reef flats and exploits hiding places in the rugged coral reefscape. It bores holes in the limestone-rock and sometimes, it seems, even in the coral itself.
Description: its test (its mineralised shell) can take various forms (long, narrow, elliptical, almost circular…). Its colour can range from dark brown to olive green to violet and redish-brown. Its radioles (spines) can be grey, brown or even creme and are often white at the tips.
Diet: the rock boring urchin ventures out at night to feed on a variety of fouling organisms such as coral or certain algae.
Size: with its radioles (spines), it is about 8 cm in diametre. Its spines can vary in length but are generally about half the test (shell) circumference/height in length.
Threats and protective measures:this urchin is not on the IUCN’s list of endangered species.
Resilience: overall, “Echinoderm distribution is similar to that of the most important ancient and successful groups”. Ocean currents have played a major role in their dispersal. Urchin larvae are pelagic (i.e. they inhabit the water column) and their young are able to float or attach themselves to seaweed.
Services provided to humanity: services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: Echinometra mathaei have a high carotenoids content (yellow and orange liposoluble pigments which are readily absorbed by our bodies).In general terms carotenoids have a range of effects: antioxydant, provitamin A activity, modulation of lipo-oxygenase activity and activation of gene expression.
Source: Un caroténoïde chasse l'autre / T. DR GIBAULT in APRIFLASH, N° 01/04/2000 (01/04/2000)
http://abiodoc.docressources.fr/opac/index.php?lvl=categ_see&id=6888
Their colouring, antioxydant, and photoprotective properties mean that some of them are used in the agri-food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. For example, suntan lotions and dietary supplements providing protection to the skin from the sun all contain a variety of carotenoid.
Business and industry sources:
http://www.oenobiol.com/dossier-articles/dossier-solaire/a-chaque-carotenoide-sa-specificite.html
http://www.fleurancenature.fr/actif-carotenoides.asp“
Today we know that antioxydant vitamins such as vitamins C, E and carotenoids play a preventative role in heart-disease and cancer in humans.”
Source: Résumé de la fiche pour Qualité des tomates : une comparaison des types traditionnels, mid life et long life - Premiers résultats / A. GRANGES in REVUE SUISSE DE VITICULTURE ARBORICULTURE HORTICULTURE, N° Vol. 27, n° 5 (01/10/1995)
http://abiodoc.docressources.fr/opac/index.php?lvl=more_results
SOURCES
Books:
W. BAUMEISTER. Guide de la faune sous-marine. Mer Rouge et Océan Indien. Tome 1 : Les Invertébrés. Ed. Ulmer, 1997.
J. SPRUNG. Trad. et adapt. J.M. BOUR. Invertébrés. Guide pratique d’identification et de maintenance. Ricordea Publishing, 2002
A. GUILLE, P. LABOUTE, J.L. MENOU. Guide des étoiles de mer, oursins et autres échinodermes du lagon de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Ed. de l’O.R.S.T.O.M., 1986.
J.-M. KORNPROBST. Sustances naturelles d’origine marine. Chimiodiversité – Pharmacodiversité –Biotechnologies. Tome 2 : Invertébrés – Vertébrés. Ed.Tec&Doc/Lavoisier, 2005
Sur les échinodermes et oursins en général :
P.P. GRASSE. Traité de Zoologie. Anatomie, systématique, biologie. Echinodermes – Stomocordés – Procordés. Tome XI. Ed. Masson, 1966, pp 273-274
Internet sites :
Encyclopedia of life :
Sea Life Base :
On echinoderms and urchins in general:
Encyclopedia Universalis
On carotenoids:
Résumé de la fiche pour Qualité des tomates : une comparaison des types traditionnels, mid life et long life - Premiers résultats / A. GRANGES in REVUE SUISSE DE VITICULTURE ARBORICULTURE HORTICULTURE, N° Vol. 27, n° 5 (01/10/1995)
Un caroténoïde chasse l'autre / T. DR GIBAULT in APRIFLASH, N° 01/04/2000 (01/04/2000)
Business and industry sources:
Photos Pauline BINCTEUX
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