Violet sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sphaerechinus granularis
- Common name
- Violet sea urchin
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Toxopneustidae
- Genus
- Sphaerechinus
- Size
- 10–20 cm
- Depth
- 0–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, seagrass, coralligenous
- Behaviours
- benthic, grazer
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Sphaerechinus granularis reaches 20 cm. Large Mediterranean and temperate East Atlantic urchin with spherical pink-purple to dark-purple body with dense short spines with distinctive white tips (hence granularis). Cousin of Paracentrotus lividus (already in base) more discreet. Lives from 0 to 100 m on rocky bottoms, Posidonia seagrass and coralligenous of Mediterranean and temperate Atlantic. Herbivore grazing algae and detritus. Classic macro photo subject of Med dives for vivid colors. Moderate commercial fishery for gonads.
Photo of Violet sea urchin
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Violet sea urchin?
- Violet sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis) reaches 10–20 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Violet sea urchin?
- Violet sea urchin is found between 0–100 m deep.
- Is the Violet sea urchin dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Violet sea urchin?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Violet sea urchin?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Toxopneustidae
- Tripneustes ventricosus - West Indian sea egg
- Tripneustes gratilla - Collector urchin
- Toxopneustes pileolus - Flower urchin
- Lytechinus variegatus - Green Sea Urchin
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 124427)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2278896)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia