Genome Sequence of Diadema antillarum. Diadema antillarum

The long-spined black sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) is a keystone herbivore of marine coasts that have been largely dominated by coral reef systems. Its shallow water benthic habitat includes the coastal Caribbean Sea as well as the western Atlantic Ocean. This important cornerstone species has suffered repeated mortality events (most recently reported in 2022) at observed localities across the Caribbean Sea, which have been chronicled after the 1983-1984 massive die-off event that wiped out up to 100% of populations in these localities. The genome assembly of this species has been completed. This information will be instrumental to future immunological and population genetic studies that will aid in reef monitoring and recovery efforts for this key marine invertebrate species.