It is often covered with pieces of seagrass, fragments of shell and other debris in a manner similar to the closely related Tripneustes gratilla.

[2] These decorations are held in place by tube feet among the spines and are believed to provide protection from the intense sunlight that penetrates the shallow water.

Its range extends from Bermuda, the Carolinas and Florida to Belize, Venezuela and Brazil and also includes the west coast of Africa and Ascension Island.

Young sea urchins conceal themselves in crevices and under rocks during the day but larger individuals stay out in the open.

[3] Ripe gonads were found in urchins at any time of year but breeding probably takes place mostly in the summer.

In order to conserve stocks, a closed period was introduced during the breeding season (May to August) during which no sea urchins were allowed to be taken.