[Coral-List] White-spined Diadema antillarum

[Barbara Whitman]

I have had individuals in my aquariums that were originally all black-spined 
but did end up with some white spines.  My aquariums are directly linked to 
the Caribbean and sometimes during a surge they bring in fine sediments so 
perhaps that had something to do with it..  I have also had small Diadema 
which were all black. The black coloring does come off the spines sometimes 
if you touch them - which unfortunately I do fairly often when cleaning the 
tanks. I have not noticed a difference in their coloring between day and 
night and when the water is clean opposed to when there are fine sediments 
making the water more murky but I will pay more attention now.

Barb Whitman
Under the Sea Sealife Education Centre
Nevis, West Indies

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gordon Hendler" <hendler at nhm.org>
To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 12:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] White-spined Diadema antillarum


> According to Moore (1966:81) large Diadema antillarum with some or many
> white or gray spines "...are found in darker and more turbid conditions 
> and
> frequently in caves. In my experience, they seem to be more common in deep
> water around Caribbean reefs than at shallow depths. The spines of
> juveniles are always banded with black and white. Individuals change color
> in response to the intensity of illumination. Animals that are black 
> during
> the day pale at night.
> Hendler et al. 1995. Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and Allies. Echinoderms of
> Florida and the Caribbean. Smithsonian Institution Press. 390 pp.
> Moore, H.B. Ecology of echinoids. In: Physiology of Echinodermata, ed. 
> R.A.
> Boolootian, 73-85. John-Wiley Interscience. N.Y.
>
>
> ********************************************
> Gordon Hendler, Ph.D.
> Curator of Echinoderms
> Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
> 900 Exposition Boulevard
> Los Angeles, California 90007 U.S.A.
> Voice:  213 763 3526
> Fax:    213 746 2999
> ********************************************
>
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