Clypeaster australasiae is a species of sea urchin also known as the UFO star or a cake urchin. It has a round body with a flower shape on the top has its mouth at the base center. This creature’s body is completely covered with small spine armor
This little creature is found all over the world. UFO Star has a very different lifestyle compared to other urchins that they hunt for food night and bury themselves in sand in day light. This is the reason that we don’t see them close in person near the beaches too often, they just hide themselves. We just add a small time lapse video for Clypeaster going inside the substrate have a look;
They are definitely bottom creatures and when they move inside the sand then tend to carry everything that gets stuck to its spine. In an aquarium with good substrate one would find small little things moving from one place to other.
It’s such a pretty little creature that in large system with good amount of substrate one would hardy notice them. So it’s like, if you have the urge to add a live creature in the tank, this little creature is pretty good for that.
