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Pourtalesia jeffreysi

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description Pourtalesia jeffreysi Overview

Pourtalesia jeffreysi is a species of deep-sea heart urchin, an echinoderm belonging to the order Holasteroida, first described by marine biologist Charles Wyville Thomson in 1873. The species is named in honor of the Welsh malacologist John Gwyn Jeffreys, who collected numerous deep-sea specimens. Inhabiting bathyal and abyssal zones of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, these invertebrates are adapted to life on the soft ocean floor, where they burrow through the sediment to feed on organic matter.

help Pourtalesia jeffreysi FAQ

What type of sea urchin is Pourtalesia jeffreysi?

Pourtalesia jeffreysi is a deep-sea holasteroid sea urchin. It belongs to a specialized order of irregular urchins that have evolved to live in the soft mud of the ocean floor.

Who first described the Pourtalesia jeffreysi species?

The species was described by the scientist Wyville Thomson in 1873. The species name "jeffreysi" honors John Gwyn Jeffreys, a famous British conchologist who extensively studied deep-sea mollusks.

Where does Pourtalesia jeffreysi live?

This sea urchin is found in the deep waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It typically inhabits bathyal and abyssal zones, meaning it lives at extreme depths far beneath the ocean's surface.

How does Pourtalesia jeffreysi feed on the ocean floor?

Like other Pourtalesia species, it burrows through the soft marine sediment to feed on organic detritus. Its test (shell) is specially adapted to move efficiently through deep-sea mud without getting clogged.

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