Döderlein, 1910 : 248 H.L. Clark, 1912 : 372 H.L. Clark, 1923 : 390 Mortensen, 1943 : 381 Illustrated guide to the echinoid (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) fauna of South Africa Filander, Zoleka Griffiths, Charles Zootaxa 2017 4296 1 1 72 38JGH (Blainville, 1825) Blainville 1825 [151,632,1910,1936] Echinoidea Echinometridae Echinometra Animalia Camarodonta 42 43 Echinodermata species mathaei     Echinometra mathei:  Döderlein, 1910: 248;  H.L. Clark, 1912: 372;  H.L. Clark, 1923: 390–391;  Mortensen, 1943: 381–393. Pl. XLII, Figs 1–10. Pl. XLVII, Figs 1–4. Pl. LXV, Figs 16–26; Clark & Courtman-Stock, 1976: 239; Coleman et al., 1991: 170; Richmond, 1997: 298; Samyn, 2003: 204, Figs 3E, E’; Branch et al., 2010: 234, Fig. 105.2; Schultz, 2010: 214, Figs 401–405.   Material examined.MBC-A 022263; MBC-A 022657; MBC-A023311; MBC-A077879; MBC-A077878; MBC- A077880; MBC-A077881; MBC-A077876; MBC-A077877; SAMC- 22262,  Identification.Test strongly elongated, rarely somewhat circular; spines stout, with white basal flange (milled ring). Distinguished by color, cleaned test white, with faint light purple tint; spines vary in color, from white to brown, sometimes greenish or purplish, often tips and milled ring white.   Global maximum size.Maximum test diameter 90 mm.    Globaldistribution. Suezto Eastcoast region of South Africa, from Japanto Australia, and from Hawaiito South Sea Islands; from littoral to  30 m( Schultz 2010).   Remarks.Inhabits holes and tunnels amongst coral blocks, known to be a rock borer ( Mortensen 1943; Asgaard & Bromley 2008)). Feeds on algae and encrusting organisms, especially sponges ( Mortensen 1943; Schultz 2010). Maher (2011)indicates that there is no genetic divergence amongst the color morphs in  E. mathaeipopulations and suggests variation may be attributed to environmental parameters. However, the observed intraspecific variation may suggest a slow speciation process ( Rahman & Uehara 2004). 1586033305 Japan South Sea Islands 30 Global South Africa 43 44 1 Suez