description Maretia planulata Overview
Maretia planulata is a species of irregular sea urchin in the family Maretiidae, commonly described as a heart urchin. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck established the name in 1816, and the species is associated with tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats where it lives as a burrowing echinoid. It is also recorded as the host of the parasitic snail Hypermastus mareticola.
help Maretia planulata FAQ
What is Maretia planulata?
Maretia planulata is an irregular sea urchin in the family Maretiidae. It is commonly described as a heart urchin because of its flattened, heart-shaped body.
Who named Maretia planulata?
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck established the species name in 1816. The scientific name places the animal within the taxonomic tradition associated with early nineteenth-century natural history.
Where does Maretia planulata live?
Maretia planulata is associated with tropical marine habitats in the Indo-Pacific. It typically lives buried in seafloor sediment rather than exposed on rocks like many regular sea urchins.
How does this sea urchin move through sand?
As a burrowing echinoid, it uses its spines and tube feet to move through and remain beneath sediment. This lifestyle helps it feed on organic material within the seafloor.
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