How related are they?
Same order, Camarodonta (Common sea urchins): relatives from different families
They split at the infraorder level: the Pincushion Urchin belongs to Echinidea, the Tuxedo Urchin to Temnopleuridea.
Find the Pincushion Urchin on the tree · Find the Tuxedo Urchin on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Pincushion Urchin | Tuxedo Urchin |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Echinodermata Echinoderms | |
| Subphylum | Echinozoa Sea urchins and sea cucumbers | |
| Class | Echinoidea Sea urchins | |
| Subclass | Euechinoidea | |
| Infraclass | Carinacea | |
| Subterclass | Echinacea | |
| Order | Camarodonta Common sea urchins | |
| Infraorder split | Echinidea | Temnopleuridea |
| Superfamily | Odontophora | — |
| Family | Toxopneustidae | Temnopleuridae Temnopleurid urchins |
| Genus | Lytechinus | Mespilia Tuxedo urchins |
| Species | Lytechinus variegatus Pincushion Urchin | Mespilia globulus Tuxedo Urchin |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Pincushion Urchin | Tuxedo Urchin |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Invertebrate · Urchin | Invertebrate · Urchin |
| Care level | Easy | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Hair, film and turf algae on rock and glass, Dried seaweed (nori), Algae wafers | Film and filamentous algae on rock and glass, Coralline algae, Dried seaweed (nori) |
| Max size | 3.5 in (8.9 cm) | 3 in (7.6 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 gal | 20 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.023–1.025 | 1.023–1.026 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–20 ppm | 0–10 ppm |
| Lifespan | Not documented in the care sheets or papers checked; no reliable captive lifespan figure was found. | Often about 1-3 years in aquariums according to a hobby care guide, with many losses in the first weeks from shipping and acclimation stress. Wild lifespan not documented. |
| Breeding | Hard | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |