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 FOTOGRAFIADO EN:
Arthropoda - Crustace Clase: Malacostraca Orden: Decapoda Familia: Palaemonidae
NOMBRE COMÚN: Quisquilla, camarón TAMAÑO: 5 a 6 cm
HÁBITAT: Vive en la orilla del mar o en lagunas
alejadas de él, a pocos centímetros de profundidad, bajo
las piedras. Tiene hábitos nocturnos. Aunque es una especie típicamente
marina, ha sido encontrada regularmente en aguas levemente salobres y en
lagunas.
FUENTES:Bucear en Tenerife y Revista Waste