Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Green sea urchin
Size:
Adult green sea urchins are typically five to six centimeters in diameter.
Diet:
Green sea urchins are omnivorous, so they eat plants and animals. Their diet mainly consists of seagrass and algae.
Range & Habitat:
These urchins can be found in shallow, brackish habitats anywhere from the U.S. to Brazil and throughout the Caribbean.
Details:
These animals, also known as variegated sea urchins, use their short spines and tube feet to hide in the sand and create water currents for feeding. Their spines are venomous to deter predators or paralyze small prey. They breed from May to July, releasing eggs into the water fertilized eggs develop on their own without parental care.