Summary
On the coral reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) the sea urchin Diadema antillarum is a major coral predator. In areas with high coral cover, up to 8.2% of the Diadema population (with a density of 8.5 animals/m2) was feeding on living coral surfaces at night. Acropora species are the most heavily attacked corals.
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Bak, R.P.M., van Eys, G. Predation of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum Philippi on living coral. Oecologia 20, 111–115 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369023