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Strongylocentrotus purpuratus is a species of sea urchin in the family Strongylocentrotidae commonly known as the purple sea urchin. It lives along the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean extending from Ensenada, Mexico, to British Columbia, Canada. [1] .
Meet the purple sea urchin. A purple sea urchin's pincushion appearance comes from its round inner shell, called a "test." The radially symmetrical test is covered with pincers (pedicellariae), tube feet and purple spines that move on ball-and-socket joints. A young urchin sports green spines.
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Fun Facts About Pacific Purple Sea Urchins. 1. The pin cushion appearance extends from a round inner shell, called a “test.” 2. The toothlike plates that surround an urchin’s mouth are called “Aristotle’s lantern.” 3. Though commonly referred to as roe, as in the eggs of a sea creature, uni sushi is actually the animal’s gonads. 5. 4.
The purple sea urchin (scientific name: Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) lives along the coast of North America in the Pacific Ocean and are quite a unique and beautiful species of marine invertebrate. Admire but don’t touch— those protective spines on their bodies are sharp!
Purple Sea Urchin. Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Purple sea urchins are often found in the intertidal zone. Their primary predators, sea otters and sea stars, have become drastically reduced due to over fishing and wasting disease.
The purple sea urchin grows from a greenish colored juvenile to a vivid purple adult. Size 4 inches (10 cm) Diet Brown and red algae, kelp, and decaying plant and animal matter; Range Eastern Pacific Ocean; Habitat Rocky shores from the low-tide line; Physical Characteristics
The Purple Sea Urchin is one of the most common sea urchins found on Sydney's coast. Identification. Colours can vary so dramatically in this species, from light olive green to pink to a dark purple, that the Purple Sea Urchin was once thought to be three separate species.
