Best Sea Urchin

Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, commonly known as the purple sea urchin, is a species of echinoderm found in Pacific coastal waters. It’s notable for its well-studied biology and serves as a key model organism within marine research. Scientists utilize this regular sea urchin, belonging to the Strong...

Mesocentrotus franciscanus, commonly known as the red sea urchin, is a regular echinoderm belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. It inhabits kelp forests along the Pacific coast of North America. This species is notable for its size and commercially harvested roe, which is consumed globally....

Diadema antillarum is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family and found throughout the Caribbean. This extant species plays a significant role in maintaining healthy coral reefs by consuming algae. The 1983 mass mortality event dramatically impacted populations, making it particula...

Diadema setosum is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family. This extant Indo-Pacific species is notable for its vibrant orange anal ring, a characteristic that distinguishes it within the *Diadema* genus. It’s particularly relevant to marine biologists and researchers studying urch...

Mespilia globulus is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the temnopleuridae family. This extant species, often called the "tuxedo urchin," is notable for its distinctive dark and light rings around its body. It’s commonly kept in aquariums by enthusiasts and researchers studying echinoderm behavior an...

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, commonly called the green sea urchin, is an extant species of sea urchin belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. It inhabits Arctic and subarctic waters. This urchin is notable for its resilience in cold environments and its edible nature. Researchers utilize...

Echinothrix calamaris, or banded hatpin urchin, is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family. This extant species inhabits the Indo-Pacific region and is notable for its striking pattern of alternating dark and light spines. It’s primarily studied by marine biologists researching ech...

*Tripneustes gratilla*, or the collector urchin, is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Toxopneustidae family. It’s notable for its unique behavior of collecting and hoarding foreign objects – shells, pebbles, and even small fish – around its body. Found exclusively in the Indo-Pacific region, thi...

Diadema savignyi is a regular sea urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family and found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This long-spined species is notable for its distinctive appearance and role in maintaining reef ecosystems. It’s frequently studied by marine biologists and researchers investi...

Mesocentrotus nudus is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. It inhabits kelp forests of the North Pacific, specifically around Japan. This species is notable for its prevalence and role in the ecosystem. Scientists study it to understand urchin populations and their imp...

Astropyga radiata is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family. This extant Indo-Pacific species is notable for its distinctive long spines and symmetrical structure. It’s primarily found in shallow waters of the western Pacific Ocean. Researchers studying echinoderm morphology and b...

*Echinus esculentus*, commonly known as the red sea urchin, is a regular echinoid found throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It’s notable for being a commercially harvested food source, prized for its edible gonads – termed “uni.” This species remains extant due to careful management...

Pseudocentrotus depressus is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. It’s native to coastal Japan and is recognized as a significant species for edible urchin aquaculture. This extant sea-urchin provides a commercially valuable food source, primarily utilized by Japanese f...

*Sphaerechinus granularis*, commonly known as the granular violet sea urchin, is a species of echinoderm inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. Its distinctive feature is its heavily granulated skeletal structure, providing unique insights into marine invertebrate evolution and calcification processes. R...

Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, commonly known as the smooth purple sea-urchin, is a regularly shaped species of green sea urchin belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. Native to temperate waters off Japan, it is particularly notable for its transparent body and frequent use in biological researc...

Echinothrix diadema, also known as the black sea-urchin, is a regular species of sea urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, it’s notable for its striking dark exterior and bright blue eyespots. These urchins are primarily found on coral reefs and are studied...

Strongylocentrotus intermedius, commonly known as the red sea urchin, is an extant species of sea urchin inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean. It’s notable for producing high-value roe, a delicacy extensively harvested in Japan. This urchin is particularly relevant to seafood industries and those inte...

*Asthenosoma periculosum*, commonly called the fire-urchin, is an extant sea urchin within the Echino­thuriidae family. It’s notable for possessing venomous spines that inflict a painful sting. This species is particularly relevant to marine biologists and researchers studying venom evolution and de...

Sterechinus neumayeri is a regular sea-urchin species native to the Antarctic waters. It’s notable as an extant echinidiana and a key model organism used by researchers studying polar marine environments. Scientists investigate this animal's physiology and adaptation to extreme cold, primarily those...

*Evechinus chloroticus*, or kina, is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Echinoidea family. It’s native to New Zealand and notable for being an edible species harvested from coastal waters. Primarily consumed by Māori communities, it remains a vital part of traditional diets and cultural practices...

Colobocentrotus atratus is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Echinoidea order. This extant species thrives in wave-zone shingle habitats, demonstrating remarkable adaptation to turbulent conditions. Its distinctive morphology and presence offers insight into coastal ecology and biodiversity stud...

Centrostephanus rodgersii is an extant Australian sea urchin belonging to the Diadematidae family. This species is notable due to its exceptionally long spines, which contribute significantly to the formation of extensive underwater barren reefs along Australia’s coastlines. Its dense populations an...

Heterocentrotus mamillatus is an extant sea-urchin belonging to the Echinoometridae family. This species, often called the slate pencil urchin, is notable for its distinctive, cylindrical spines resembling a pencil. Found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, it’s studied by marine biologists and rese...

Asthenosoma varium is a venomous sea urchin belonging to the Echinothuriidae family. This extant species, often called the fire-urchin, is notable for its potent spines that deliver a painful toxin. Found primarily in the Indo-Pacific, it’s of interest to marine biologists studying venom evolution a...

*Tripneustes ventricosus*, commonly known as the West Indian sea egg, is a regular sea urchin belonging to the Toxopneustidae family. This extant species inhabits the Caribbean Sea and is notable for its role in commercial fisheries. It’s harvested primarily by local fishermen throughout the region...

Diadema mexicanum is a key herbivorous sea urchin found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, first described by Alexander Agassiz in 1863 and vital to reef ecology.

Astropyga magnifica is a marine sea urchin belonging to the family Diadematidae, originally described by Hubert Lyman Clark during his 20th-century expeditions.

*Tripneustes depressus* is a tropical sea urchin species described by Alexander Agassiz in 1863, notable for its ecological role in the seagrass beds and rocky reefs of the Eastern Pacific.

Named for its discovery in Japanese waters, Clypeaster japonicus is a species of sea biscuit urchin described by Ludwig Döderlein in 1885.