Sea Urchins

Phylum Echinodermata, Class Echinoidea

Sea Urchins

Sea Urchins have radially symmetrical bodies divided into 5 equal parts. They move about using articulating spines and tube feet. Jawed tube feet called pedicellariae are employed for defense along with sometimes venomous spines. Urchins feed upon algae, sponge, or detritus. Their hard jaws and stout spines are capable of eroding coral or rock in some species. Urchin roe is a delicacy in Japan and supports a fishery in the North Pacific.

For more information about sea urchins visit Dr. Dafni's research page and The Echinoid Directory.

Tube Feet	Deepwater Urchins

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HAWAII

Heterocentrotus mammillatus

SLATE PENCIL URCHIN

Colobocentrotus atratus

SHINGLE or HELMET URCHIN

Echinometra mathaei

PALE ROCK-BORING URCHIN

Echinometra oblonga

BLACK ROCK-BORING URCHIN

Echinostrephus aciculatus

NEEDLE-SPINED URCHIN

Diadema sp. 1

UNIDENTIFIED LONG-SPINED URCHIN

Diadema paucispinum

LONG-SPINED URCHIN

Echinothrix diadema

BLUE-BLACK URCHIN

Echinothrix calamaris

BANDED URCHIN, banded morph

Echinothrix calamaris

BANDED URCHIN, black morph

Leptodiadema purpureum

FINE-SPINED URCHIN

Astropyga radiata

BLUE-SPOTTED URCHIN

Tripneustes gratilla

COLLECTOR URCHIN

Pseudoboletia indiana

PEBBLE-COLLECTOR URCHIN

Cyrtechinus verruculatus

WARTY SAND URCHIN

Eucidaris metularia

TEN-LINED URCHIN

Actinocidaris thomasi

THOMAS' URCHIN

Chondrocidaris gigantea

ROUGH-SPINED URCHIN

Acanthocidaris hastigera

SPEAR URCHIN

Prionocidaris hawaiiensis

HAWAIIAN THORNY URCHIN

Brissus latecarinatus

HEART URCHIN

Echinocyamus spp.

MINIATURE HEART URCHIN

Clypeaster reticulatus

RETICULATED SEA BISCUIT

Clypeaster sp.

GIANT SEA BISCUIT

INDO-PACIFIC

Toxopneustes pileolus FLOWER URCHIN

JAPAN

Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus GREEN SEA URCHIN Bafun-uni	Strongylocentrotus intermedius SEA URCHIN Ezo Bafun-uni

NORTHEAST PACIFIC

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis GREEN URCHIN	Strongylocentrotus franciscanus RED URCHIN
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus PURPLE URCHIN	Centrostephanus coronatus CROWNED URCHIN
Lytechinus anamesus WHITE URCHIN

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Toxopneustes roseus

TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC

Meoma ventricosa SEA BISCUIT