Green sea urchin — printable fact sheet

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Green sea urchin

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The green sea urchin is a small, spiny invertebrate found in cold, shallow waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Its spherical body is covered with short, greenish spines that provide protection from predators and aid in locomotion. Green sea urchins play a crucial rol…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Strongylocentrotidae

Habitat

Rocky ocean bottoms and kelp forests in cold, shallow coastal waters

Diet

Herbivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

6-30 years

Weight

30-50 grams

Scientific name

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Did you know?

Some green sea urchins can live up to 100 years in the wild under optimal conditions.
Green sea urchins have a unique feeding structure called Aristotle's lantern, which allows them to scrape algae off rocks. They can regenerate lost spines and even parts of their skeleton. Sea otters and starfish are among their main predators.

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