description Cidaris blakei Overview
Cidaris blakei is a cidaroid sea urchin associated with deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. Alexander Agassiz described the species in 1878. It is distinguished by the form of its primary spines, which have been described as paddle-like, a feature relevant to identifying this member of the pencil-urchin group. The species is primarily of interest in marine zoology and deep-sea biodiversity studies.
help Cidaris blakei FAQ
Who described Cidaris blakei and when?
Alexander Agassiz, the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology director and son of Louis Agassiz, described the species in 1878. Much of his deep-sea echinoid work drew on collections made by the U.S. Coast Survey steamer Blake, which the species name honors.
Where does Cidaris blakei live?
It is associated with deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. Like other cidaroid urchins it occurs well below recreational diving depths on deep seafloor habitats.
What does Cidaris blakei look like?
It is distinguished by its paddle-like, flattened primary spines, a key identification feature for the species. Those thick, sparse primary spines are characteristic of cidaroids, the so-called pencil urchins.
What is the genus Cidaris?
Cidaris is the namesake genus of the Cidaridae, an ancient sea urchin lineage whose fossil relatives stretch back hundreds of millions of years. C. blakei is one of its modern deep-water representatives.
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