Long-Spined Sea Urchin

The Long-spined Sea Urchin belongs in the family Diadematidae. You’ll find these herbivores dwelling in the western part of the Atlantic and in the Caribbean. These creatures are identified by their long black spines. Most sea urchins will have spines that range from 1-3 cm, while the long-spined sea urchin has a range of 10-12 cm. If you find a larger individual, you could see their spines get up to 30 cm! They have a black test (hard shell) that covers their body, protecting their insides. They also have their spines to protect them from predators. Their spines are hollow and filled with a mild venom (not a threat to your life). If they feel threatened, they will poke their spines out and release venom. What’s cool about the sea urchin is its anatomy. The sea urchins’ mouth is on the bottom of their body while their anus is on top (you can see from one of the slides how the anatomy is). What is so distinctive about this species is the area around their anus that’s called the periproct cone, it has a bright orange ring around it.

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