description Brissus unicolor Overview
Brissus unicolor is a heart urchin in the family Brissidae, formally described by Nathanael Gottfried Leske in 1778. It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic waters, where it lives buried in sand or other soft marine sediment and feeds on organic material within the substrate. Its bilaterally organized, heart-shaped test and burrowing way of life distinguish it from the more radially symmetrical sea urchins commonly seen on exposed rock.
help Brissus unicolor FAQ
Who described Brissus unicolor?
Brissus unicolor is a heart urchin in the family Brissidae, with the authority Leske, 1778. Nathanael Gottfried Leske formally described the species in 1778. [SeaLifeBase](https://www.sealifebase.org/summary/50026)
Where does Brissus unicolor live?
It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and nearby Atlantic waters, where it buries itself in coarse sand or other soft sediment. Reported depth ranges extend from shallow water to roughly 240 or 250 metres. [DORIS](https://doris.ffessm.fr/Especes/Brissus-unicolor-Oursin-de-sable-gris-936)
How can I tell Brissus unicolor from a sand dollar?
Brissus unicolor is a buried heart urchin, not a flat sand dollar, and the living animal is covered in short brown spines. Its dead test can reach about 14 cm and often becomes pale after the spines disappear. [Brissus unicolor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brissus_unicolor)
What does Brissus unicolor feed on?
It lives within sediment and feeds on organic material found in the seabed rather than grazing on exposed rock. Its buried lifestyle is one reason living specimens are rarely seen, even though the species occurs across the Mediterranean and Atlantic. [SeaLifeBase](https://www.sealifebase.org/summary/50026)
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