Shore sea urchin (Psammechinus miliaris)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Psammechinus miliaris
- Common name
- Shore sea urchin
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Parechinidae
- Genus
- Psammechinus
- Size
- 3–6 cm
- Depth
- 0–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky, seagrass
- Behaviours
- herbivorous
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic
Description
Psammechinus miliaris reaches 6 cm. Small urchin with a test green-pink to pale purple, short spines with purple-pink tips giving it a colorful appearance. Boreal cousin of Mediterranean Paracentrotus lividus (in seed). Lives abundantly in intertidal pools and on shallow Atlantic rocks down to 100 m. Grazes algae and small invertebrates. From Norway to Brittany notably. Colorful photo subject.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Shore sea urchin?
- Shore sea urchin (Psammechinus miliaris) reaches 3–6 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Shore sea urchin?
- Shore sea urchin is found between 0–100 m deep.
- Is the Shore sea urchin dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Shore sea urchin?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Shore sea urchin?
- Found in: East Atlantic.
Other species in the family Parechinidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 124319)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 9808074)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia