How related are they?
Same order, Camarodonta (Common sea urchins): relatives from different families
They split at the infraorder level: the Tuxedo Urchin belongs to Temnopleuridea, the Pincushion Urchin to Echinidea.
Find the Tuxedo Urchin on the tree · Find the Pincushion 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 | Tuxedo Urchin | Pincushion 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 | Temnopleuridea | Echinidea |
| Superfamily | — | Odontophora |
| Family | Temnopleuridae Temnopleurid urchins | Toxopneustidae |
| Genus | Mespilia Tuxedo urchins | Lytechinus |
| Species | Mespilia globulus Tuxedo Urchin | Lytechinus variegatus Pincushion Urchin |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Tuxedo Urchin | Pincushion Urchin |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Invertebrate · Urchin | Invertebrate · Urchin |
| Care level | Easy | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Film and filamentous algae on rock and glass, Coralline algae, Dried seaweed (nori) | Hair, film and turf algae on rock and glass, Dried seaweed (nori), Algae wafers |
| Max size | 3 in (7.6 cm) | 3.5 in (8.9 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.023–1.026 | 1.023–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–10 ppm | 0–20 ppm |
| Lifespan | 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. | Not documented in the care sheets or papers checked; no reliable captive lifespan figure was found. |
| Breeding | Hard | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |