Erizo Diadema
Diadema antillarum
El erizo de lima está presente en Canarias desde hace miles de años, formando el ecosistema denominado blanquizal, sin embargo el uso descontrolado del medio marino (vertidos, sobrepesca y reducción de zonas de cría tales como los sebadales) ha provocado un desequilibrio ecológico, dando lugar a la explosión demográfica de las erizas, convirtiéndolas así en uno de los principales problemas de los fondos de Canarias.
Diadema antillarum, also known as the lime urchin, black sea urchin or the long-spined sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the Family Diadematidae.
This sea urchin is characterized by its exceptionally long black spines.
It is the most abundant and important herbivore on the coral reefs of the western Atlantic and Caribbean basin. When the population of these sea urchins is at a healthy level, they are the main grazers which prevent algae overgrowth of the reef.
Anatomy
Diadema antillarum has a test, or "shell," similar to most other sea urchins. What distinguishes the Diadema is the length of its spines. Most sea urchin spines are 1–3 cm, but the spines in this species are usually 10–12 cm in length, and can grow as long as 30 cm in very large individuals.
Life habits
This species usually lives at 1–10 metres in depth on coral reefs. They will often lodge themselves in a crevice, so that only their spines can be seen, but individual urchins who can't find a suitable crevice will live in more exposed situations. Individuals that have been able to find a crevice usually will roam about one metre from their crevice at night during feeding. Diadema is very sensitive to light, and will often pick its crevice or resting place based on how much shade there is.
Diadema mostly eat algae, and sometimes seagrass. Starving urchins have been known to become carnivorous.
FUENTES: Cabildo de Gran Canaria y Wikipedia
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