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