description Abatus cordatus Overview
Abatus cordatus is an Antarctic-region schizasterid heart urchin described by Verrill in 1876 and listed from the Kerguelen Islands.
help Abatus cordatus FAQ
Where does Abatus cordatus live?
Abatus cordatus is known from the Kerguelen Islands and the Heard and McDonald Islands in the subantarctic southern Indian Ocean. It lives shallowly buried in sandy or muddy seafloor sediments.
Why is Abatus cordatus called a heart urchin?
It is an irregular sea urchin with an oval, bilaterally symmetrical test, giving it the heart-urchin body plan. Unlike a regular sea urchin, it is adapted for burrowing through sediment.
How large does Abatus cordatus get?
Adults are roughly 4 to 5 centimeters long. The hard test is covered with short spines and has petal-like zones on its upper surface.
What is unusual about Abatus cordatus reproduction?
Females brood their young in deep pockets on the upper surface of the test, using specialized spines to help retain them. The species was described by Addison Emery Verrill in 1876.
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