Urchin?

[mntlblok]

Ran across this back in April at BHB. Is it a sea urchin of some sort? The symmetry doesn't look right for that, but porcupines usually prefer dry land. Now can't recall the size. Couple of inches?

Kevin

 

[Scuba Monkey]

I don't know where BHB is, but the urchin looks like the burrowing heart urchin, echinocardium cordatum.

 

[mntlblok]

I don't know where BHB is, but the urchin looks like the burrowing heart urchin, echinocardium cordatum.

Thank you! I see now that it's also called a Sea Potato.

Sorry, BHB is the Blue Heron Bridge.

Kevin

 

[billmackbarnes]

I find them at BHB occasionally. They are usually buried so they are hard to spot.
It thought it was called a sand mouse.
Be careful, those spines are sharp and will go through your glove and your hand with very little force.
Bill

 

[mntlblok]

I find them at BHB occasionally. They are usually buried so they are hard to spot.
It thought it was called a sand mouse.
Be careful, those spines are sharp and will go through your glove and your hand with very little force.
Bill

I'm too chicken to touch *anything* down there. It *does* look much like a computer mouse, doesn't it?

Kevin

 

[billmackbarnes]

I don't reccomend picking up the scorpion fish or petting the stargazers, but I have been known to do it myself.

I have heard lesser electric rays can jump up and zap you before you realize what happened, but they are usually quite shy.

Two things to watch are eel bites and cat bites. Their long teeth are like hypodermic needles and inject bacteria beneath the skin. A casual wash or rinse is not the same as irrigating the punture with iodine. You need to go to the doctor for antibiotics.

The best place to get treated for cat bites is the vet!

Now if you dive in the Pacific, touch nothing! They have stuff that will kill you!