Creature Feature – Urchin
This week is the letter ‘U’, and today’s featured creature is the Urchin!.
Sea Urchins are echinoderms (like starfish and sea cucumbers) that are typically spiny and live on the seabed. There are about 950 species!
Taxonomy
Phylum: Echinodermata
Subphylum: Echinozoa
Class: Echinoidea
Urchin Fact File
Size: Individuals typically range in size from 3 to 10cm, but the largest species can reach up to 36 cm
Distribution: Species can be found worldwide as they inhabit all oceans!
Diet: They feed primarily on algae but also eat slow-moving or immobile animals
Behaviour: Sea urchins move slowly, crawling with their tube feet, and sometimes pushing themselves with their spines. With no true brain, the nervous system of sea urchins has a relatively simple layout and they are sensitive to touch, light, and chemical
IUCN Status: Some species are endangered or at risk, while others are not. For example the edible sea urchin is Near Threatened
