Common Name:
Red sea urchin
Scientific Name:
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus
Unique Qualities:
Red sea urchins are colourful creatures varying from red to dark burgundy that crawl along the sea floor using their spine as stilts. They have spherical bodies, which are inside a hard shell completely covered by many sharp spines.
Can be Seen:
Red sea urchins can been seen on the rocky sub tidal habitats of British Columbia from just below the low tide line to perhaps 90m.
Likes to Hang Out:
They like to hang out in places that have rocky ground, with lots of seaweeds and kelp. They avoid the rocky areas near extreme wave action and places with sand and mud.
Likes to Eat:
Red sea urchins like to eat drift seaweed and kelp. They have special jaws with five teeth with which they devour plant material.
Status:
Sea otters have been known to feed on red sea urchins. But now, since sea otters are considered an endangered species, the population of red sea urchins is rising!
