Feature Creature Dec 07

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Welcome to the feature creature page. Here you will find short articles on different marine creatures. A new article will be featured each month.

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Urchins

This month we look at Urchins. These unusual creatures are from the Phylum, Echinodermata, which means ‘spiny skin’. They are spherical in shape with a flattened top and bottom. They have a shell of close-fitting limey plates covered with a delicate living skin. These plates bear moveable spines that also have stinging structures used for defence and obtaining food.

The animal walks aided by retractable tube; the suckers on the end of the tube feet also help this fellow turn himself over and hold onto rocks during strong wave action. Sea Urchins do not have a brain as such but have instead a well-designed nervous system.

Urchins have a clawlike mouth on the underside which has five tooth-like plates that point downwards and is called Aristotle’s Lantern. Their diet consists of kelp, decaying matter, dead fish, sponges and barnacles.

These very striking creatures are an important part of the rock pool ecosystem and can be found in pools and gutters at low tide. The come in a variety of colours from deep maroon to pale orange, or white.

From all our volunteers at OCCI, we wish you a safe and happy Christmas. Maybe we will meet you on our rock walks. Please take care of our wonderful marine environment during your stay. Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives are a volunteer marine conservation group.

Written by Robyn Aitkens

Photographs by Chris Roberts

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