European edible sea urchin (Echinus esculentus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Echinus esculentus
- Common name
- European edible sea urchin
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Echinidae
- Genus
- Echinus
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, kelp-forest, coralligenous
- Behaviours
- benthic, grazer, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Echinus esculentus reaches 16 cm diameter and 500 g. Globular pink to violet test covered with short violet-tipped spines. Lives from 0 to 40 m on rocks and kelp forests from Norway to Portugal. Peaceful, grazes algae and small invertebrates. Historically heavily fished for its gonads but populations relatively stable. Classic teaching model in marine biology. Remarkable photo subject in Atlantic diving.
Photo of European edible sea urchin
Frequently asked questions
- Is the European edible sea urchin dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the European edible sea urchin?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the European edible sea urchin?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Similar species
- Paracentrotus lividus - Purple sea urchin
- Astropecten aranciacus - Red comb star
- Ophiothrix fragilis - Common brittle star
- Holothuria tubulosa - Tubular sea cucumber
- Ophidiaster ophidianus - Purple sea star
- Hacelia attenuata - Attenuated sea star
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 124287)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5188139)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia