Green Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Due to their small size, green sea urchins protect themselves with short spines that are located around the animal’s outer skeleton (test). Green sea urchins mainly eat kelp, algae, and some invertebrates. Their roe is eaten as a delicacy called uni.
SPECIES IN DETAIL
Green Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable
Geographic Distribution
The green sea urchin inhabits cold coastal areas in the Northern hemisphere from Alaska to Washington state, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean in the Northeast. It is the only type of urchin that can live in brackish water such as the Baltic Sea.
Habitat
The green sea urchin lives in the rocky intertidal zone from shallow waters up to depths of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) in cold water temperatures.
Physical Characteristics
Green sea urchins are small, compact animals that are circular in shape with a green outer shell. They have short, sharp movable spines, and tube feet that are used to move across the ocean floor and rocks to acquire food as well as for protection and respiration.
Size
They grow up to 9 centimeters (3.6 inches) wide and average 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length.
Diet
Although kelp and other algae make up their primary food source in the wild, on occasion, they eat fish and invertebrates. Their mouth structure is called Aristotle’s lantern. The mouth is composed of several strong sharp teeth that are used to scrape algae off of rocks.
Reproduction
Green sea urchins take several years to become sexually mature and able to reproduce. They live in clusters and when water temperature and conditions are perfect, male and female green sea urchins simultaneously release their gametes.
Behavior
Green sea urchins are generally more active after sunset searching for food.
Adaptation
Urchins protect themselves with their sharp, short spines from predators such as lobsters, crabs, seagulls, and sea otters.
They use a combination of those spines and their sticky tube feet to move and grab their food.
Longevity
Green sea urchins live between twenty and twenty-five years.
Conservation
Currently there is no threat to the green sea urchin.
Special Notes
Green urchins can live in brackish water such as the Baltic Sea.
SPECIES IN DETAIL | Print full entry
Green Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable
The green sea urchin inhabits cold coastal areas in the Northern hemisphere from Alaska to Washington state, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean in the Northeast. It is the only type of urchin that can live in brackish water such as the Baltic Sea.
The green sea urchin lives in the rocky intertidal zone from shallow waters up to depths of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) in cold water temperatures.
Green sea urchins are small, compact animals that are circular in shape with a green outer shell. They have short, sharp movable spines, and tube feet that are used to move across the ocean floor and rocks to acquire food as well as for protection and respiration.
They grow up to 9 centimeters (3.6 inches) wide and average 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length.
Although kelp and other algae make up their primary food source in the wild, on occasion, they eat fish and invertebrates. Their mouth structure is called Aristotle’s lantern. The mouth is composed of several strong sharp teeth that are used to scrape algae off of rocks.
Green sea urchins take several years to become sexually mature and able to reproduce. They live in clusters and when water temperature and conditions are perfect, male and female green sea urchins simultaneously release their gametes.
Green sea urchins are generally more active after sunset searching for food.
Urchins protect themselves with their sharp, short spines from predators such as lobsters, crabs, seagulls, and sea otters.
They use a combination of those spines and their sticky tube feet to move and grab their food.
Green sea urchins live between twenty and twenty-five years.
Currently there is no threat to the green sea urchin.
Green urchins can live in brackish water such as the Baltic Sea.