Image: Purple Sea Urchin Illustration

Purple Sea Urchins are round in shape. They are covered in purple and white spines. They can grow up to 9 cm wide.

Illustrator:

Andrew Howells

Rights:

© Australian Museum

Common name:

Purple Sea Urchin

Scientific name:

Heliocidaris erythrogramma

Additional information

Purple Sea Urchins are round in shape. They are covered in purple and white spines. They can grow up to 9 cm wide.

Purple Sea Urchins live on rocky shores of eastern and southern Australia. They can be found in rockpools.

Purple Sea Urchins eat seaweed and algae.

Purple Sea Urchins are grazers. Their mouth is on the underside of their body. They use their powerful jaws and teeth to scrap food off rocks.

Octopuses, crabs and fish eat Purple Sea Urchins.

Purple Sea Urchins' spines are strong enough for them to dig small holes into rocks. They can chew the surface of the rocks, making a hole in which to hide.

Last Updated: 4 August 2009

Tags wild, kids, illustration, sea, urchin, seacreature, ocean,