The striking appearance of this fire urchin (Asthenosome ijimai: 20 cms.) represents a warning. Stings from its sharp multi-coloured toxic spines are extremely painful, and have occasionally been fatal to humans. Feeding on algae and seaweed, it moves mainly by means of hundreds of hydraulically-operated tube feet. In addition, it sometimes uses its long movable spines (some of which are visible in the top right and bottom left of the photograph) as stilts to climb over rocks and other small objects. As with all sea urchins, its five-fold symmetry is apparent in the picture. Bali, Indonesia.

---

Size: 5138px × 3415px
Location: Secret bay, Jalan Pantai Balian, Lalanglinggah, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Photo credit: © Terence Dormer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: adventure, asthenosome, bali, colourful, coral, creation, creature, dangerous, diving, fatal, fire, humans, ijimai, indonesia, life, marine, natural, nature, patterns, picture, reef, scuba, sea, selection, trd5143, underwater, urchin