Why are sea urchins purple

A MRI scan of the internal anatomy of this species, performed by Ziegler et al. Adams, N. Campanale, and K. Foltz, Proteomic responses of sea urchin embryos to stressful ultraviolet radiation. Integrative and Comparative Biology pp Basch, L. Tegner, Reproductive ecology of sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , at contrasting intertidal and subtidal environments. Bottjer, David J. Davdson, Kevin J. Peterson, and R.

Andrew Cameron, Paleogenomics of echinoderms. Science Davidson, Eric H. The sea urchin genome: Where will it lead us? Ebert, T.

Hernandez, and M. Russell, Problems of the gonad index and what can be done: analysis of the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Marine Biology pp.

DOI: Edmands, S. Moberg, and R. Burton, Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA evidence of population subdivision in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Marine Biology Elbert, T. Schroeter, J. Dixon, and P.

Kalvass, Settlement patterns of red and purple sea urchins Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and S. Marine Ecology Progress Series Flowers, Jonathan M. Schroeter, and Ronald S. The recruitment sweepstakes has many winners: Genetic evidence from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

Evolution pp Goldstone, JV, A. Hamdoun, B. Cole, M. Howard-Ashby, D. Nebert, M. Scally, M. Dean, D. Epel, M. Hahn, and J. The purple sea urchin grows from a greenish colored juvenile to a vivid purple adult. Size 4 inches Its upper surface is domed and the underside is flattened. The mouth has a complex structure made up of five calcium carbonate plates. This sea urchin grows from a greenish colored juvenile to a vivid purple adult.

It can grow to 4 inches Purple sea urchin eats brown and red algae, kelp, and decaying plant and animal matter. It is able to grasp food using its spines and tube feet. Found on rocky shores from the low-tide line to depths of feet m. Purple sea urchin moves on small tube feet, which are found all over the animal. At this age they are usually 25 cm in diameter.

The surf definitely aids in the transportation of the gametes, but too strong of a surf can damage the ova and spermatozoon. After fertilization, the egg matures and grows into a sea urchin. The test protects the sea urchin's internal organs. However, the strengthening of the test must happen quickly to protect the sea urchin in its vulnerable state. The sea urchin is classified as an Echinoderm which are known for their prickly skin or other protection methods such as spikes.

The sea urchin is specified as a member of the Kingdom of Animalia. The sea urchins are very important to their habitat because they help maintain the amount of algae in the ocean. Sea urchins have not been classified as endangered, and at the moment they are considered common. However, the harvesting of purple sea urchins is becoming more popular therefore increasing their chances of becoming endangered.

They are being exported to Japan and other countries in vast amounts due to their reputation as a delicacy. As a result, scientists believe that the population of sea urchins is at risk. Thankfully, fishing permits of the sea urchin are being limited in order to conserve this amazing animal.

Sea urchins play an important ecological role as grazers of marine algae. When their predators such as sea otters are absent, urchins can become very numerous. In these situations, the seabed is stripped bare of marine algae creating what is known as urchin barrens. These urchins are nocturnal and do most of their grazing at night.

During the day they will usually stay stationary on the aquarium glass, or in hiding spots in rock work. All urchins prefer rock work on which they can crawl and feed. They are excellent algae eaters. They use these five pyramids and each pyramid has a tooth to force algae off rocks. Lamb, A. Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest.