Echinometra mathaei is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinometridae, commonly referred to as the burrowing sea urchin or the Indo-Pacific rock-boring urchin. It is a tropical marine echinoderm widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, eastern Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and across Pacific coral reef systems. The genus name Echinometra derives from the Greek ekhinos meaning “hedgehog” or “sea urchin” and metra meaning “womb” or “matrix,” referring to the internal structure of the test, while the species epithet mathaei likely refers a person named "Matthew" or "Mattieu". This species inhabits shallow reef flats and rocky substrates, where it actively burrows into limestone and coral using its spines and specialized teeth in the Aristotle’s lantern feeding apparatus.

Historically, Echinometra mathaei has been consumed in various coastal Indo-Pacific communities, particularly in parts of Micronesia, Polynesia, Okinawa, the Philippines, and East Africa, though it is generally less commercially valued than temperate uni species. Its gonads are eaten raw, lightly cooked, or mixed into rice and seafood preparations in subsistence and small-scale local fisheries. Echinometra mathaei produces edible roe (uni), though typically smaller and more variable in flavor compared to temperate Strongylocentrotidae species. It is associated with traditional reef-foraging cultures in Oceania, parts of Japan (notably Okinawa), and coastal East Africa.

Nutritionally, the species contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids known for anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits; echinochrome A, a polyhydroxylated naphthoquinone pigment with antioxidant and potential cardioprotective properties; ovothiol, a sulfur-containing antioxidant involved in cellular redox balance; and carotenoids such as β-carotene and astaxanthin, which contribute antioxidant activity and pigmentation. Like other sea urchins, it also contains sterols and peptides that may exhibit antimicrobial or immunomodulatory properties. These compounds contribute to its nutritional value while also playing ecological roles in reef environments.