Kina...

……………..With Spines



A sea urchin, known by the Maori name of Kina in New Zealand.

When a sea urchin dies, all its spines fall off, leaving only a hard shell with tiny bumps where the spines were once connected.  See this blip which I uploaded earlier this month showing a ‘clean’ shell.  
And this blip to see Kina shells in colour.

I found this tiny Kina washed up on the beach at Kaiteriteri. While the spines aren’t completely intact, it does give a glimpse of what this shell looks like when it is alive.




Many thanks for the visits, comments, stars and hearts for yesterday’s elegant gannet flying high as it searched for food.