Slate-Pencil Sea Urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) The blunt, finger-width spines on this urchin are not dangerous to the touch.  In fact, ancient Hawaiians snapped the spines right off and used them for lipstick (if wet) and slate pencils (if dry)! The bright red color rubs onto anything that touches it.

Slate-Pencil Sea Urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus)

The blunt, finger-width spines on this urchin are not dangerous to the touch.  In fact, ancient Hawaiians snapped the spines right off and used them for lipstick (if wet) and slate pencils (if dry)! The bright red color rubs onto anything that touches it.

  1. Camera: Olympus C5050Z
  2. Aperture: f/2
  3. Exposure: 1/80th
  4. Focal Length: 11mm
  1. 25th October 2011
  2. Notes: 43
    3. #hawaii #history #lipstick #urchin #Echinodermata #red
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