Brissus gigas, also known as the giant heart urchin,[1] is a species of sea urchins of the family Brissidae. Their armour is covered with spines. Brissus gigas was first scientifically described in 1947 by H.B. Fell.[2]
| Brissus gigas | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Echinoidea |
| Order: | Spatangoida |
| Family: | Brissidae |
| Genus: | Brissus |
| Species: | B. gigas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brissus gigas H.B. Fell, 1947
| |
Description edit
Most documented specimens of Brissus gigas range between 50–190mm in length, however the largest specimen of Brissus gigas was collected off the coast of Great Mercury Island in 2009, measuring 193mm.[1]
Distribution edit
Specimens of this species have been found around the north and north-east coast of the North Island, from Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands down to Great Mercury Island.[1] Brissus gigas is found in sandy or muddy burrows close to coasts, in the sublittoral zone.[1] Between 1982-3, deoxidisation from a plankton bloom of Cerataulina pelagica caused mass deaths of the species in the Hauraki Gulf.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Cameron, Marcus J. (2010). "The Largest Recorded Specimen of the Giant Heart Urchin, Brisus gigas (Echinoidea: Brissidae)". Records of the Auckland Museum. 47: 89–92. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905914. Wikidata Q58623374.
- ^ Kroh, A. (2010). Brissus gigas (H.B. Fell, 1947). In: Kroh, A. & Mooi, R. (2010) World Echinoidea Database. at the World Register of Marine Species.
 | This article about a sea urchin is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |