A cousin to the sea star, the Purple Sea Urchin has short spines
which range from 1-2 inches. Often broken by predators or
careless visitors, their spines may regrow when broken because
they are made up of living tissue. The underside of the urchin
shows the five converging teeth which create a structure called
ìAristotles Lantern.î  These teeth are very adept at devouring
kelp. Intertidal areas are often scoured, devoid of seaweed
vegetation by large populations of urchins. Urchins are harvested
for their roe (eggs), a delicacy called Uni in Japan. Urchins
often protect themselves by eroding cavities in rocks and pilings,
even ones of steel.
Habitat/Range: Purple Sea Urchins can be found in turbulent
surf areas from Vancouver Island, Canada to Baja, California.