Violet Sea Urchin

Echinoderm

Identification & Biology

• IdentificationA large, rounded sea urchin with short, dense, blunt-tipped spines giving it a velvety texture. Colour ranges from violet and purple to pale lilac and sometimes white. The test (shell) is usually visible between the spines and may show contrasting banding.
• SizeTest diameter up to 13 cm. One of the larger regular urchins in the Mediterranean.
• Social HabitSolitary or in loose groups. Often covers itself with shell fragments, algae, and debris held in place by its tube feet, possibly for protection from UV light.
• HabitatRocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and sandy substrates near rock. Found on open surfaces, unlike the more crevice-dwelling species.
• Depth0 to 130 m. Most common between 5 and 40 m.
• Feeds OnAlgae, seagrass, bryozoans, and organic detritus. An omnivorous grazer.
• DistributionEastern Atlantic from the Channel Islands to West Africa, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Common in Maltese waters.
• DescriptionSphaerechinus granularis is a large, handsome urchin that is easy to recognise by its velvety appearance and violet colouring. Its habit of covering itself with debris gives individuals a distinctive dishevelled look. The bare test (shell) is strikingly beautiful with a geometric pattern of purple and white, and cleaned tests are sometimes collected as ornamental objects. The species serves as an important prey item for large fish and octopus.