Echinothuriidae
| Echinothuriidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Echinoidea |
| Order: | Echinothurioida |
| Family: | Echinothuriidae Thomson, 1872 |
| Genera | |
|
See text | |
The Echinothuriidae are a family of sea urchins in the order Echinothurioida. These echinoderms are typical of the Indo-Pacific these softer-bodied "leather urchins" are found from abyssal to shallow littoral zones in the ocean. While common in the Indo-Pacific these colourful urchins can be found across the world. Some individuals within Echinothuriidae such as species in the genus Asthenosoma are also known as "fire urchins" due to their bright colours and painful, venomous sting.