They can also be inconvenient to humans when diving in the sea, as they can sting when coming into contact. 11. Now that you know more about the Sea Urchin by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. More commonly, large populations of sea urchins are found on coral reefs in Hawaii, Australia and the Caribbean. Sea Urchins are typically spiny, globular animals, echinoderms in the class Echinoidea. Sea Urchins have over 200 species. The Flower Urchin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The mouth of the Sea Urchin, (known as the Aristotle’s lantern) is found in the middle on the underside of the Sea Urchin’s body and has five tooth-like plates for feeding. Sea Urchins breed by releasing their egg into the ocean. Red Sea Facts: 16-20 16. Furthermore, Sea Urchins are deliberated to clutch the healing energies that heal, harmonize and cleans the torso in addition to the chakras. 15. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Learn more about me and my species @ www.kids.nationalgeographic.com. Fun Facts about Sea Urchin: Sea urchins have incredibly long lives, living 50 to100 years. The Sea Urchin mainly feeds on algae on the coral and rocks, along with decomposing matter such as dead fish, mussels, sponges and barnacles. The embryo soon transforms into larva. This small urchin will reach sexual maturity at about two years of age and develop into a full-grown adult within about five years. The Old English term “urchin” was the name for the spiny hedgehog. But even at that, it still takes at least 6-7 years before the sea urchin is of harvestable size, the scientists say, compared to the two years that had previously been believed. 11.The sea urchin lives in warm ocean waters. How many species of recognized Sea Urchins are there? It can survive up to 200 years in the wild. Some species use their spines to anchor themselves to rocks and other things in the bottom of the ocean. # 4. There are some members of the species that are endangered. The female sea urchin can release up to 1000 eggs at a time, a small percentage of these eggs go on to become sea urchins because there are a lot of sea animals that dine on them before they are ever fertilized. 16. They look like flowers instead of animals this confuses predators. The egg is fertilized and quickly, within about 12 hours becomes an embryo. They can live in warm waters at depths as low as 20 feet all the way to depths of 5000 feet. Here are 18 facts about Sea Urchins to help gain a better understanding of these incredible creatures. Keeping the beaches clean and reducing waste can help to protect the sea urchins. This helps the flower urchin by removing the parasites that can cause disease and cause the spines to fall out leaving it defenseless. They range in size from about an inch in diameter up to 14 inches. 18. A sea urchins shell can be called a test or a shell. They have been known to get as old as 200 years. The lifespan of most sea urchin species can reach up to 30 years. # 1. 7. Sea urchins have a general sensitivity to light all over the body. Sea urchins feed mainly on algae, but can also feed on sea cucumbers, and a wide range of invertebrates such as mussels, polychaetes, sponges, brittle stars and crinoids. 3 Sea Urchin Facts. That’s almost 440,000 square km. The spines on the flower urchin contain a paralytic that will paralyze predators. © 2019 Animals A to Z for Kids, All rights reserved. They are covered in thin, short spines. Fossil sea urchins were thought to be stones that had fallen from the sky during a storm. Sea urchins are scavengers, meaning they eat whatever they find. 17. Sea urchin behavior can signal changes in water parameters and deteriorating water quality — it’s one of the first animals to show stress during algal blooms, unseasonal temperature changes, and in polluted water. They have also been known to feed on sponges, sea stars, mussels, sea cucumbers, carrion, and polychaete worms. As with other echinoderms, Sea Urchins do not have a brain and instead rely on their water-vascular system which is like a circulatory system and comprises of water-filled channels that run through the body of the Sea Urchin. They reproduce early and prolifically, releasing several million eggs at a time. Sea Urchins are commonly found along the rocky ocean floor in both shallow and deeper water and are also commonly found inhabiting coral reefs. These spines help the slow-moving animal to … The Red Sea is home to some of the saltiest water on the planet, largely thanks to the sheer heat, as well as the evaporation levels in the region. fun fact . They have zero bones in their body.. What are the two causes of the Sea Urchin being threatened with extinction. They show a shadow response, making rapid movement with their spines if a shadow suddenly appears. They spend their days moving around the ocean floor feeding. Hey Kids, my name is Sara the Sea Urchin and I am very happy to meet you. Ocean pollution and over harvesting are two of the biggest concerns for conservationist. Sea urchins “Eurhodia”, found in abundance, are called ” lucky stones ” in Jamaica. 10. The clown fish builds an immunity to this paralytic so that it can feed off the flower urchin. The sea urchin lives in warm ocean waters. Original estimates of the life span of red sea urchins were 7 to 10 years. Sea otters have re-entered British Columbia, dramatically improving coastal ecosystem health by eating sea urchins. Sea Urchins are highly venomous and can piece through a wet-suit. Fun Facts. There are nearly 200 different species of recognized Sea Urchin, that come in all shapes and sizes. navajocodetalkersadmin on February 16, 2015 - 12:00 pm in, Sharing the Stories of the Navajo Code Talkers through, A film featuring the testimony of Keith Little that served as…, Samuel Tso served as a Navajo Code Talker after enlisting in…, Samuel Tom Holiday was an admirable patriot. Sea urchins feed by grabbing and biting with their five teeth. Sea urchins are generally love-lived, with many species living to be 70-100 years or more. What is the population status of the Sea Urchin? 9 Unbelievable Facts About Urchins The red sea urchin is the largest of the species.. # 5. The clown fish does a funny dance where it gently brushes up against the spines of the flower urchin to expose itself to just a bit of the poison at a time. They will eat as many sea urchins as they can find. 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