Echinoderms - Spiny Skin

 

>Phylum: Echinodermata

General

• Ancient Greek “Echinos” meaning “spiny” and “dermos” meaning “skin"
• Approximately 7,000 species
• Includes starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, sea lillies

 Distribution

• Exclusively marine animals, no freshwater

Habitat

• Benthic animals
• Found usually on the sea floor in every marine habitat from the intertidal zone to ocean depths

 Body

• They are triploblastic.
• Larval form show bilateral symmetry and adult forms show radial symmetry
• Body is unsegmented without a head
• The body is uniquely shaped. It can be star like, elongated or spherical

 

 Reproduction

• Sexes are dimorphic, Echinoderms are either male or female
• Become sexually mature after about two to three years
• Most release their eggs and sperm into the water where they are fertilized externally
• A female can release one hundred million eggs at once

 

> Phylum Echinodermata can be divided into:

 >- Subphylum:  Asterozoa

  >> Class  Asteroidea            Sea Stars & starfishes 

  >> Class  Ophiuroidea         Brittle Stars

 >- Subphylum:  Crinozoa

  >> Class  Crinoidea              Sea Lilies & Feather Stars

 >- Subphylum:  Echinozoa

  >> Class  Echinoidea           Sea Urchins and Sand Dollar

  >> Class  Holothuroidea      Sea Cucumbers

 

 

 

>>Class:   Asteroidea          Sea Stars & starfishes

 

>>>Order:   Forcipulatida 

>>>>Family:   Asteriidae          Asteriid Sea Stars

Asterias amurensis _ Northern Pacific Sea Star              Coscinasterias muricata _ Eleven-armed Sea Star          Marthasterias Africana _ Spiny Seastar

                             

Photo taken Frankston Pier, Victoria on 18.09.2023                                   Photo taken Mornington Pier, Victoria on 01.10.2020                                   Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 31.10.2006

 

>>>>Family:   Stichasteridae          Reef Sea Stars

 Uniophora sp._Granular Sea Star                                 Uniophora granifera_Granular Sea Star

           

Photo taken Second Valley, South Australia on 13.02.2022                        Photo taken Mornington Pier, Victoria on 01.10.2020

 

>>>Order:   Spinulosida

>>>>Family:     Echinasteridae          Spiny Star

Echinaster sp._ Luzon Sea Star                               Echinaster luzonicus _ Luzon Sea Star                         Henricia ornata _ Reticulated Sea Star

                    

Photo taken North Stradbroke Island, Queensland on 17.02.2024     Photo taken Amed, Indonesia on 20.07.2022                                            Photo taken False Bay, Indonesia on 31.10.2006  

 

Plectaster decanus  _ Mosiac Sea Star

Photo taken Bare Island, New South Wales on 30.08.2008

 

 

>>>Order:   Paxillosida

>>>>Family:   Astropectinidae          Comb (or Sand) Stars

Astropecten sp._ Spiny Sand Star                                   Astropecten irregularis _ Sand Sea Star 

                     

Photo taken Isabela Island, Gaalpagos on 24.06.2023                                Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 31.10.2006

 

>>>Order: Valvatida

>>>>Family:   Acanthasteridae          Crown-of-Thorns Starfishs

 

Acanthaste sp._Crown of Thorns Sea Star                                  Acanthaster planci_Longed Spined Crown of Thorns Sea Star

     

Photo taken Puerto Galera, Philippines on 29.10.2018                                Photo taken Adaman Sea, Thailand on 17.02.2023        

 

>>>>Family:   Asterinidae          Starfish

Callopatiria granifera_Red Sea Star                                  Asterinidae_sp.__Sea_Star                                        Meridiastra calcar_Carpet Sea Star

          

Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 31.10.2006                         Photo taken Sorrento Pier, Victoria on 15.05.2023                Photo taken Frankston Pier, Victoria on 26.09.2023

 

Meridiastra gunni_Gunns Six Armed Star           Paranepanthia grandis_Seastar 

       

Photo taken Flinders Pier, Victoria on 19.09.2023          Photo taken Sorrento Pier, Victoria on 15.05.2024

 

>>>>Family:   Asteropseidae          Asteropseids

 

Petricia_vernicina_Velvet_Sea_Star

          

 Photo taken Frankston Pier, Victoria on 18.09.2023

 

>>>>Family:   Goniasteridae          Biscuit Stars

Fromia indica_Indian Sea Star                                     Fromia monilis_Tiled Sea Star                            Fromia polypora_Many spotted Seastar

                              

Photo taken Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland on 14.10.2017          Photo taken Nusa Penida, Indonesia on 22.10.2023                    Photo taken Pope's Eye, Victoria on 29.09.2024

 

Nectria_ocellata_SpottedSeaStar                             Pentagonaster duebeni_Biscuit Star

     

Photo taken Lonsdale Wall, Victoria on 28.06.2020                             Photo taken Sorrento Pier, Victoria on 15.05.2024

 

Tosia australis_Southern Sea Biscuit                 Tosia magnifica_Magnificient Biscuit Star             Tosia neossia_Sea Biscuit

             

Photo taken Blairgowrie Pier, Victoria on 12.05.2020    Photo taken Rye Pier, Victoria on 30.01.2011                 Photo taken Blairgowrie Pier, Victoria on 28.08.2013 

 

>>>>Family:   Ophidiasteridae

Certonardoa semiregularis_Japanese Orange Sea Star

Photo taken Chiba Peninsula, Japan on 28.10.2025 

 

Leiaster coriaceus_Velvety Sea Star                                       Linckia guildingi_Guildings Sea Star                                           Linckia laevigata_Blue Linckia

                                                                                  

Photo taken Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland on 13.10.2017           Photo taken Andaman Sea, Thailand on 17.02.2023                                     Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 23.09.2016

 

Linckia multifora_Spotted Linckia                                           Nardoa galatheae_Brown Mesh Sea Star                    Phataria unifascialis_Blue Sea Star

                         

Photo taken Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland on 14.10.2017          Photo taken Tulamben, Indonesia on 29.10.2018                       Photo taken Isla de Isabela, Ecuador on 24.06.2023   

 

>>>>Family:   Oreasteridae          Cushion Stars

Choriaster granulatus_Granulated Sea Star            Culcita novaeguineae_Pillow Cusion Star            Culcita schmideliana_Spiny Cushion Star

                  

Photo taken Tulamben, Indonesia on 16.10.2011                  Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 28.09.2016                 Photo taken Andaman Sea, Thailand on 17.02.2023 

 

Nidorellia armata_Chocolate Chip Sea Star                     Pentaceraster cumingi_Panamic Cushion Star                  Pentaceraster sp._Sea Star

           

Photo taken Isabela Island, Galapagos on 24.06.2023                   Photo taken Isabela Island, Galapagos on 24.06.2023                    Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 28.09.2016 

   

 

 

>>Class:   Ophiuroidea

 

>>>Order:   Amphilepidida

>>>>Family:   Amphiuridae

Ophiocentrus pilosa _ Brittle Star

Photo taken Flinders Pier, Victoria on xx.xx.xxxx

  

>>>Order:  Ophiacanthida

>>>>Family:   Ophiodermatidae

Ophioderma wahlbergii _ Serpent-skinned Brittle Star

Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 31.10.2006

Ophiopsammus assimlis _ Brittle Stars

Photo taken Rapid Bay, South Australia on 13.03.2022

 

 

 

 

 

>>Class:   Crinoidea

 

 

 

>>>Order:  Comatulida

Comatulida sp._Feather Star

Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 23.09.2016 

 

>>>>Family:   Comatulidae

Anneissia bennetti_Bennett's Bushy Feather Star              Cenolia trichoptera_Orange Feather Star                

         

Photo taken Eagle Reef, Queensland on 27.10.2013                                       Photo taken Blairgowrie Pier, Victoria on 15.11.2024

 

>>>>Family:   Mariametridae

Stephanometra sp._Feather Star

Photo taken Amed, Indonesia on 16.09.2024

   

>>>>Family:   Tropiometridae

Tropiometra carinata_Elegant Feather Star

Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 31.10.2006

 

 

>>Class:   Echinoidea

 

 

 

 

 

>>>Order:   Cidaroida

>>>>Family:   Cidaridae          Pencil Urchins

Phyllacanthus irregularis_Club-spined Sea Urchin

Photo taken Rapid Bay, South Australia on 11.03.2022

 

>>>Order:   Diadematoida

>>>>Family:   Diadematidae

Diadema savignyi_Savigny'sLongspine Sea Urchin

Photo taken Apo Island, Philippines on 23.09.2016

 

>>>Order:   Camarondonta

>>>>Family:   Echinometridae

Echinometra mathaei_Indo Pacific Rock Boring Urchin           Heliocidaris_erythrogramma_WesternPacificPurpleSeaUrchin

           

Photo taken North Stradbroke Island, Queensland on 27.01.2008         Photo taken Rye Pier, Victoria on 16.12.2016

 

>>>>Family:   Parechinidae

Loxechinus albus_Edible Chilean Sea Urchin                                                Parechinus_angulosus_CapeSeaUrchin

      

Photo taken Valparaiso, Chile on 15.06.2023                                                                                      Photo taken False Bay, South Africa on 310.10.2006

 

>>>Order:   Spatangoida 

>>>>Family:   Maretiidae

Maretia_planulata_Hearth Heart Urchin

Photo taken Amed, Indonesia  on 20.07.2022 

 

>>>Order:   Echinolampadacea 

>>>>Family:   Mellitidae

Mellitidae sp._Sand Dollar

 

Photo taken San Pablo, Ecuador on 05.07.2023 

 

 

 

 

>>Class:   Holothuroidea

 

>>-Subclass:     Actinopoda

>>>Order:     Dendrochirotida

>>>>Family:     Cucumariidae

Colochirus robustus _ Yellow Sea Cucumber            

     

Photo taken Puerto Galera_ Philippines on 22.09.2021       

 

>>>>Family:     Phyllophoridae             

Massinium magnum_Large Burrowing Sea Cucumber        Thyone_sp.___Burrowing_Sea_Cucumber

                      

Photo taken Dauin_ Philippines on 02.05.2025                                                   Photo taken False Bay on 31.10.2006  

 

>>>Order:   Holothuriida

>>>>Family:   Holothuriidae

Bohadschia_argu_Leopard_Sea_Cucumber                  Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis_Pinkfish Sea Cucmuber                        

                                      

Photo taken Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland on 13.10.2017                 Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 22.09.2016                                                                           

 

>>>Order:     Molpadida

>>>>Family:     Caudinidae

 Paracaudina_bacillis_Sea_Cucumber

Photo taken Rye Pier, Victoria on 03.06.2017

 

>>>Order:     Synallactida

>>>>Family:     Stichopodidae

Australostichopus mollis_Australiasian BrownSea Cucumber        Isostichopus fuscus_Brown Sea Cucumber               Notostichopus ludwigi_Ludwigs Sea Cucumber

                          

Photo taken Sorrento Pier, Victoria on 15.05.2024                                                          Photo taken Kicker Island, Galapogos Islands on 27.06.2023                Photo taken Rapid Bay, South Australia on 13.03.2022

 

Stichopus chloronotus_Greenfish Sea Cucumber                            Thelenota ananas_Pineapple Sea Cucumber

       

Photo taken Dauin, Philippines on 19.09.2016                                                  Photo takenPalau, Micronesia on 08.12.2023  

 

>>-Subclass:     Paractinopoda

>>>Order:     Apodida

>>>>Family:     Chiridotidae

Chiridota sp. _ Chiridota

Photo taken Edithburgh Jetty, South Australia on 10.07.2025

 

>>>>Family:     Synaptidae

Synaptidae (Family) sp._Synaptidae                          

     

Photo taken Apo Island, Philippines on 23.09.2016