Strongylocentrotus franciscanus with a Painted star in the centre. Photo by Ryan Murphy

Habitat: Rocky substrates, especially ledges and crevices located near bull kelp beds and other brown algae in area of moderate to swift currents. Larvae drift and feed in plankton, juveniles settle near kelp bed, often associate with aggregation of adults, remain under adult spines until they reach 40mm.

Behavior: The red sea urchin is found in deeper water than the purple sea urchin. It is seen from the low intertidal area to as deep as 90 meters. The urchins move their feet by a hydraulic system which creates suction in the end of the food by pulling water out the madreporite. These tube feet may also be used to sense of smell the chemicals in their surroundings like others urchins, the red sea urchin can regrow its spines if they are broken. On full size urchins, these spines sometimes shelter small juveniles.

Reproduction: The spawning of red sea urchin peaks between, June and September in southern BC. The fertilized eggs develop into planktonic larvae before settling on the bottom where they change into tiny juvenile sea urchins. This replenishment of the population, appears to occur annually in local waters. New recruits must hide from potential predators and many seek shelter under the spines of adult . Adulthood is at approx. 3cm diameter and legal size of 10cm is reached in five to ten years. Life span sometimes exceeds 30 years.People eat the gonads (sexual organs, called “UNI”) of this urchin. It is especially a delicacy in Japan and others parts of Asia. Sunflower stars, some fish, birds, and sea otters also prey on them.

This Giant Red Urchin contrasts with the Metridium sp. beds at Race Rocks. Habitat: Rocky substrates, especially ledges and crevices located near bull kelp beds and other brown algae in area of moderate to swift currents. Larvae drift and feed in plankton, juveniles settle near kelp bed, often associate with aggregation of adults, remain under adult spines until they reach 40mm. Usually, they eat red or brown algae (see in the photograph they have eaten pieces of the kelp Nereocystis), periwinkles, and occasionally barnacles or mussels. Distribution; rocky areas though at exposed and protected coastal waters. Link to a video contrasting purple and red sea urchins[/caption] In this video, both purple urchins, green urchins and giant red urchins are shown at Race Rocks. Purple urchins may be seen in the lower intertidal zone and in a few of the lower level tidepools. They are also occasionally seen by divers in the 5-8 meter depth at Race Rocks, although they are not as frequent as the larger red urchins . They are distinguished from young red urchins of the same size by their short spines,   Domain: Eukarya Kingdom Animalia Phylum Echinodermata Order Echinoida Family: Strongylocentrotidae Genus Strongylocentrotus sprecies: franciscanus Common name  Giant Red Urchin   Other Members of the Phylum Echinodermata at Race Rocks  Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. Original by Ainhoa Orensanz Year 28