Whorl-Spined Urchin

Plococidaris verticillata is a sea urchin from the Cidaridae family.

Brownish spherical body with thick spines bearing encircling whorls of shot blunt spines often covered with fouling organisms.

The anus is at the top (apex), in the center of a star pattern with 5 branches of brown to greyish blue. The quills (primary radioles) have a particular shape. They are thick, successive stages of teeth, clearly visible on the young regrowths, the oldest being covered with encrusting organisms. Secondary X-rays are short, rod-shaped. The color of this sea urchin is greenish to brownish. He is herbivorous. Nocturne. Max size 10 cm, depth 1.5-52 m

It inhabits shallow rubble and patch reefs.

Indo-Pacific, also Japan