DiscoverSpeciesOther invertebrates
Metalia sternalis
- Usual depth2–16 m
- Water temperature23–29 °C
- Best monthsApril
- How commonRare
Photo credit: no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 7 records
- February: 8 records
- March: 18 records
- April: 51 records
- May: 14 records
- June: 2 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 6 records
- September: 4 records
- October: 12 records
- November: 7 records
- December: 4 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 2–16 m · Deepest record: 295 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 23–29 °C
Names and classification
Names in 3 more languages
- Japanese
- ノブタブンブク, ライオンブンブク
- Thai
- เม่นหัวใจ
- Simplified Chinese
- 胸板海壺
Other scientific names: Brissus areolatus, Brissus bicinctus, Brissus sternalis, Metalia gareti, Metalia garretti, Metallia sternalis, Spatangus sternalis, Xanthobrissus garretti
Similar species
Mauve Heart UrchinMetalia spatagus
- Winged Heart Urchin
Metalia dicrana
Keeled Heart UrchinBrissus latecarinatus
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 115 open-data records from 1816 to 2018.
- Species data updated October 26, 2026.
Log what you see on your next dive
The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.