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03/22/2017, 01:44 AM | #1 |
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Fire Urchin growth? ?
I have had a fire urchin for 8 months, it started out yellow, then turned beautiful red.
I guessed it was part of its growth cycle. The question: How does it get a larger body/shell? Do they molt? |
03/22/2017, 02:16 AM | #2 |
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That's a good question. I couldn't find anything in the subject but now I need to know how it grows too
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03/22/2017, 06:28 AM | #3 |
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The internal skeleton of a sea urchin, or test, is made up of many hexagonally shaped calcareous plates known as ossicles. Each ossicle is a single crystal of calcium carbonate in a form known as calcite. The ossicles are fenestrated (have holes) which, remarkably, increases their relative strength. The adjoining plates or ossicles in a sea-urchin test are not fused; rather, they are separated by tissue sutures within which crystalline calcium carbonate is secreted for growth. A newly metamorphosed sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus has 10 interambulacral plates (5 in each column). The number of interambulacral plates increases wtih age/size from 10 to over 40 in 70-80mm diameter individuals.
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03/22/2017, 10:53 AM | #4 |
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So if I understand correctly, the plate separate as it grows?
They don't molt a section off (like a crab or shrimp) |
03/22/2017, 04:48 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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03/22/2017, 09:39 PM | #6 |
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You might find this link helpful. It's where Ron Reefman quoted all of his information from:
http://www.asnailsodyssey.com/LEARNA...N/urchTest.php
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03/23/2017, 04:33 AM | #7 |
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Yup, and I should have included the link, my bad. It's what happens when you are in a hurry!
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03/23/2017, 06:18 AM | #8 |
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Think of it like the suture lines in a baby's skull
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