Sea Urchin

Animals Unique | Sea Urchin | The sea urchin found in across the ocean floors worldwide, but rarely in the colder, polar regions. Sea urchins are commonly found along the rocky ocean floor in both shallow and deeper water and sea urchins are also commonly found inhabiting coral reefs.

There are nearly 200 different species of sea urchin recognised, that come in all shapes and sizes. Some sea urchins are covered in long thin spikes where others have a hard shell is made up of That Chalky plates. The red sea urchin is the longest living creature on earth, with some living more than 200 years.

 

Sea urchins are omnivorous animals and therefore eat both plant and animal matter. The sea urchin Mainly feeds on algae on the coral and rocks, along with decomposing dead matter Such as fish, mussels, sponges ans Barnacles.

 

Sea urchins are preyed about by many predators That Inhabit Their marine environment, but also Those That animals do not. The main predators of the sea urchin are crabs, large fish, sea otters, eels, birds and Humans. In some countries, Certain species of the sea urchin are hunted and served as a delicacy.

 

Sea urchins have a round shaped body and with long spines That come off it. The spines of the sea urchin are used for protection, to move about, and to trap food particles are floating around That in the water. Sea urchins have five paired rows of tiny tube feet, the which are found amongst the spines. The feet of the sea urchin the which have suckers help the sea urchin to move about, capture food, and to hold onto the ocean floor.

Sea urchins also have little claw-like spines Their structure Among the which the sea urchin uses for protection. These structures (known as pedicellarines) That are small stinging structures are not only used for defense and obtaining food, but are also vital in keeping the body of the sea urchin clean.

 

The mouth of the sea urchin (known as the Aristotle's lantern), is found in the middle on the Underside of the sea urchin's body and has five tooth-like plates for feeding. The anus of the sea urchin is located on the top of the body. As with other echinoderms, sea urchins do not have a brain and instead rely on Their water-vascular system the which is like a circulatory system and comprises of a water-filled channels run through the body That of the sea urchin.

 

Sea urchins spawn during the spring, and the female sea urchin releases Millions of tiny, jelly-coated eggs into the water That are then fertilised by the sperm of the male sea urchin. The tiny sea urchin eggs Become part of the plankton and the sea urchin babies (larvae) do not hatch for Several months. The sea urchin young will not large enough to Become retreat from the plankton and down to the ocean floor until They are Between 2 and 5 years old.

Due to dredging on the ocean floor and pollution in the water, the sea urchin Populations are declining and the sea urchin and today thought to be Threatened with extinction.

 

Sea Urchin Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: echinoids
Order: Echinoida
Common Name: Sea Urchin
Scientific Name: echinoids
Origin: Worldwide
Size: 3-10cm (1.2-3.9in)
Water Type: Salt
Optimum pH Level: 6.0-9.0
Life Span: 15-200 years
Conservation Status: Threatened
Skin Type: Plates
Favourite Food: Algae
Habitat: Rocky ocean floor and coral reefs
Average Clutch Size: 2,000,000
Main Prey: Algae, Fish, Barnacles
Predators: Fish, Birds, Crabs, Sea Otter
Special Features: Small stinging structures and claw-like mouth