Blue-black Urchin

Range: Indo-Pacific region, including the Hawaiian Islands

Although blue-black urchins have similar size and shape to the closely related banded urchin (E. calamaris), as adults, they can be differentiated from banded urchins by their fully dark (as opposed to striped) spines. As juveniles, these urchins also have stripes on their spines like their banded urchin counterparts. In native Hawaiian culture, despite being difficult to harvest and handle due to their venom, wana are known for having the best tasting elelo, which are the gonads of the urchin. A little larger than banded urchins, blue-black urchins can grow up to eight inches in diameter, including their spines.