Urchins
You may spot some fragments of sea urchin shell either in the pool or along the beach. Look around this type of environment next time you are visiting the seaside to see if you can find traces of them.
Urchins are also Echinoderms and are cousins to starfish and sea cucumbers.
Imagine that they are a starfish holding its arms over its head. They have jaws called 'Aristotle's Lantern' for grasping and chewing food. They range in size from 0.5" to 6" diameter. Urchins protect themselves from predators by its spines and uses long tube feet to anchor it to rocks, pick up food or throw off unwanted bits.
Edible Urchin (Echinus esculentus)
Largest of Europe's sea urchins at 10-12 cm diameter. It eats seaweed and encrusting invertebrates. Breeds in spring when the eggs are shed into the sea. Slow growing.
Green Urchin (Echinocyamus pusillus)
Very small urchin at less than 1.5cm.
Found in coarse sand and gravel. It drapes pebbles, shells and bits of seaweed over its spines for camouflage. Breeds in summer and there are both male and female types.
