In Panama this species is common in the Gulf of Panama and the Gulf of Chiriqui in rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats, particulalry under rocks and among Pocillopra spp. coral branches. It has been collected from Venado Beach (USNM E 18760), Naos Island (USNM E 18755), Perico Island (USNM E 25500), Taboga Island (USNM E 4947), the beach at Rio Mar (USNM E 25251), Fort Kobbe Beach (USNM E 14571; Centroid Latitude: 8.90, Centroid Longitude: -79.58), the reef off of French Port (USNM 1017372), Perlas Archipelago (USNM E 6776 & USNM E 6775), and Uva Island (USNM E 25498), eastern Pacific, North Pacific Ocean.
Mortensen T. (1928b): A monograph of the Echinoidea. Vol.1 Cidaroidea. C.A. Reitzel, Copenhagen: 1-551, pages: 393-398.
LSID urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:513266Cidaris (Eucidaris) thouarsii (L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846) (transferred to Eucidaris)
Cidaris (Gymnocidaris) thouarsii (L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846) (transferred to Eucidaris)
Cidaris callao Perrier, 1869 (subjective junior synonym)
Cidaris danae L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846 (subjective junior synonym)
Cidaris thouarsii L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846 (transferred to Eucidaris)
Leiocidaris danae (L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846) (subjective junior synonym)
Leiocidaris thouarsii (L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846) (transferred to Eucidaris)
Eucidaris thouarsii, the slate pencil urchin, is a species of cidaroid sea urchins that inhabits littoral regions of the East Pacific Ocean.[1][2]
Eucidaris thouarsii is found in the East Pacific at depths of 0–45 m (0–148 ft), ranging from Baja California to Panama, as well as Cocos Island, Clipperton Island and the Galápagos Islands.[3][4][5] The Galápagos, Clipperton and Cocos populations are now often recognized as a separate species, E. galapagensis, instead of a subspecies of E. thouarsii.[6]
Like all urchins these are primarily herbivores, but feed on a wide range of invertebrates.[7] This species has a high nutrient absorption efficiency when it comes to the coral Pocillopora damicornis, but would require a large intake to make nutrient requirements.[8] Due to its high intake of coral, it reduces reef growth.[9]
Eucidaris thouarsii, the slate pencil urchin, is a species of cidaroid sea urchins that inhabits littoral regions of the East Pacific Ocean.
