Sphaerechinus granularis
Violet sea urchin ( Sphaerechinus granularis )
The Purple Sea Urchin ( Sphaerechinus granularis ) is occurring in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic sea urchins.
Features
The Purple Sea Urchin achieved Case diameter to 13 cm. The belly is significantly flattened. The blunt spines up to 2 cm long and are very dense. The color of the spines ranges from purple to white. Sit between the pedicellariae spines, some of which are provided with poison glands.
Way of life
The diet consists of sea grass roots together with the nursery and turf algae that cover rocks.
Occurrence
The distribution area includes the entire Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic Ocean below 2 m and up to 100 m depth. In calm water, as in the root system of the seagrass meadows of the sea urchin already occurs in shallow water. In moving water, such as on cliffs with surf, the animals are not able to grapple with the little suckers on the ground. There you will find the Purple Sea Urchin only in deeper areas. There are colonized rocky bottoms and seagrass beds.