BioInvasions Records (2015) Volume 4, Issue 4: 261–264 Open Access doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/bir.2015.4.4.05 © 2015 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2015 REABIC Rapid Communication The Chilean black urchin, Tetrapygus niger (Molina, 1782) in South Africa: gone but not forgotten 1,2 1,3 1 Clova A. Mabin , John R.U. Wilson and Tamara B. Robinson * 1Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa 2Marine Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa 3Invasive Species Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa E-mail:
[email protected] (CM),
[email protected] (JW),
[email protected] (TR) *Corresponding author Received: 22 July 2015 / Accepted: 9 September 2015 / Published online: 17 October 2015 Handling editor: Vadim Panov Abstract It is important to keep lists of invasive and alien species up to date, but it can be difficult to determine when species should be removed from such lists. One such example is the urchin, Tetrapygus niger (Molina, 1782), which is believed to have been unintentionally introduced to Alexander Bay on the west coast of South Africa with oyster spat imported for aquaculture (the only recorded alien population of T. niger globally). This species is a kelp grazer in its native range, capable of converting healthy kelp populations to barren landscapes. This study involved the re-survey of two aquaculture dams in September 2014, which previously contained the urchin, as well as intertidal and subtidal transects of the surrounding coast.