Emory Meyer
Science / English
November 17, 2015
Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus more commonly known as the Sea urchin is found in rock pools, wave exposed rocks, and sea grass beds around the coastline from Alaska to the Cedros Islands, Mexico. The Sea urchin’s appearance includes a round body covered in large, sharp spines. They range in color from brown to purple. An interesting fact about this organism is that there is around 200 different types of Sea urchins all around the world. Their prey includes: algae, dead fish, sponges, mussels, barnacles, and kelp. Their predators include: crabs, snails, sea otters, many birds, and humans. They are heterotrophic, meaning that they get energy from other organisms by eating autotrophs or other heterotrophs, they have radial symmetry, and they are ectothermic meaning they are cold-blooded. Three adaptations that they have include: two structural: They are light sensitive, meaning when exposed to light they can camouflage easily and they have tube feet that help them move around on the ocean floor. One functional and structural: if a Sea urchin senses predators it punctures it with its large spikes.
Domain: Eukaryotes
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Order: Echinoida
Family: Strongylocentrotidae
Genus: Strongylocentrotus
Species: purpuratus
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