Sea Urchin (Euechinoidea)
Size – Usually just 1 to 4 inches (2-10cm) across with the largest reaching 14 inches (35 cm.)
Sea Urchins are the lovable, spiny and spherical Echinoderms in the class Echinoidea.
Most are round and contain five equally sized parts stemming from their central core. They are most known and thought of for their spines.
They are widely distributed across all the ocean sea beds from tropical to polar climates. They inhabit rocky shores to the deepest parts of the ocean.
Primarily Algae, but sometimes they will eat a small, slow-moving or immobile animal.
They may appear to be incapable of moving, but like our other Echinoderm friends, they use their tube feet to scoot along the seabeds.
They are often responsible, though accidentally, for many injuries to ocean swimmers.
Some species’ spines can be venomous, but this is usually not dangerous if the spines are removed from the skin quickly.
There are nearly 1000 species of Sea Urchin.
They are sometimes referred to as Sea Hedgehogs due to their spiky, spherical appearance.
