Urchins

54 species

Sea urchins are fascinating and unique invertebrates that can be a great addition to a reef aquarium. Known for their spiny exteriors, these echinoderms are not only interesting to look at but also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the tank. Sea urchins are excellent algae grazers, helping to keep unwanted algae growth under control. This makes them particularly useful in larger tanks where algae can quickly become an issue if not managed properly.

There are various species of sea urchins that hobbyists can choose from, each with its own set of characteristics. For example, the Mespilia globulus is small and colorful, making it a popular choice for smaller tanks. On the other hand, the Diadema setosum is known for its long, sharp spines and requires more space due to its size and potential for causing injury.

When keeping sea urchins, it's important to consider their specific needs. They require stable water conditions with appropriate levels of calcium and alkalinity to maintain their spines and overall health. Additionally, they are sensitive to changes in water quality, so regular monitoring and maintenance are crucial. Sea urchins also need plenty of live rock to graze on, and it's essential to ensure that they are well-fed to prevent them from starving.

Sea urchins have interesting behaviors and can be quite active, often moving around the tank in search of food. They can also be a part of fascinating symbiotic relationships; for example, some species have been observed carrying small pieces of debris or even small animals for camouflage and protection. However, caution should be taken when handling them, as their spines can be sharp and potentially venomous in some species.

Overall, sea urchins can be a valuable and intriguing addition to a reef aquarium, provided their care requirements are met. Their unique appearance and beneficial algae-grazing habits make them a favorite among many reefkeepers.

  1. Magnificent fire urchin (Asthenosoma ijimai) near Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines.  Underwater photography and travel.
    Common name: Fire Urchin
    Scientific name: Asthenosoma ijimai
  2. Coleman Shrimp, Periclimenes colemani, Sea Urchin, Variable Fire Urchin, Asthenosoma varium, Coral Reef, Lembeh, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Asia
    Common name: variable fire urchin
    Scientific name: Asthenosoma varium
  3. Magnificent Urchin Astropyga magnifica
    Common name: Pale spine fire urchin
    Scientific name: Astropyga magnifica
  4. Blue-spotted Urchin (Astropyga radiata)
    Common name: Blue-spotted Urchin
    Scientific name: Astropyga radiata
  5. Sand dollar and shell lying on the beach
    Common name: Lesser Sand Dollar
    Scientific name: Brissus latecarinatus
  6. Common name: groove burrowing urchin
    Scientific name: Brissus unicolor
  7. Hatpin sea urchin - Centrostephanus longispinus
    Common name: long-spined urchin
    Scientific name: Centrostephanus longispinus
  8. Large almost black Rodgers sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii hiding in rock crevice covered with colourful encrusting invertebrate life forms.
    Common name: Long-spined Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Centrostephanus rodgersii
  9. Close up of sea urchin Sand dollar, Cake urchin or Sea Biscuits on sandy bottom in sun glare, Red sea, Egypt
    Common name: Sand Dollar
    Scientific name: Clypeaster humilis
  10. Close up of sea urchin Sand dollar, Cake urchin or Sea Biscuits on sandy bottom in sun glare, Red sea, Egypt
    Common name: Sand Dollar
    Scientific name: Clypeaster reticulatus
  11. Common name: sea biscuit
    Scientific name: Clypeaster rosaceus
  12. A Sand Dollar (Clypeaster subdepressus) on the beach
    Common name: sand dollar
    Scientific name: Clypeaster subdepressus
  13. Underwater two long spined sea urchins, Diadema antillarum, on the seabed in the Caribbean sea
    Common name: long-spined sea urchin
    Scientific name: Diadema antillarum
  14. Diadema Savignyi - Diadematidae - Long-spined sea urchin - Black longspine urchin  - Banded diadem
    Common name: Sea urchin
    Scientific name: Diadema savignyi
  15. Sea Urchin Or Urchin Or Sea Hedgehog Diadema Setosum Swimming In
    Common name: black longspine urchin
    Scientific name: Diadema setosum
  16. Heart urchin, Echinocardium cordatum, Raja Ampat Indonesia.
    Common name: sea-potato
    Scientific name: Echinocardium cordatum
  17. Hawaiian Pink Rock Boring Urchin
    Common name: rock-boring urchin
    Scientific name: Echinometra lucunter
  18. Rock Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei) underwater hidden in a hole in coral, lagoon of Bora Bora, Pacific ocean, French Polynesia
    Common name: Rock Boring Urchin
    Scientific name: Echinometra mathaei
  19. Caribbean Reef Urchin (Echinometra viridis)
    Common name: Reef Urchin
    Scientific name: Echinometra viridis
  20. Needle-Spined Urchin on Coral Reef
    Common name: Urchin Spine Snail
    Scientific name: Echinostrephus aciculatus
  21. Common name: Burrowing fine spine urchin
    Scientific name: Echinostrephus molaris
  22. Bleistift-Diademseeigel  Echinothrix calamaris
    Common name: banded sea urchin
    Scientific name: Echinothrix calamaris
  23. Sea Urchin at Seabed Diadema Setosum
    Common name: Diadema urchin
    Scientific name: Echinothrix diadema
  24. Single European Edible Sea Urchin - latin Echinus esculentus - inhabiting seashore coastal waters of western Europe, in an zoological garden marine aquarium
    Common name: common sea urchin
    Scientific name: Echinus esculentus
  25. White Urchin
    Common name: Pineapple Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Echinus melo
  26. Old sand dollar
    Common name: Sand Dollar
    Scientific name: Encope emarginata
  27.  slate pencil urchin Heterocentrotus mammillatus
    Common name: Pencil Urchin
    Scientific name: Eucidaris metularia
  28. Eucidaris tribuloides, the slate pencil urchin
    Common name: slate pencil urchin
    Scientific name: Eucidaris tribuloides
  29. close up underwater photo of red slate pencil urchin
    Common name: Slate Pencil Urchin
    Scientific name: Goniocidaris tubaria
  30. oursin crayon , Heterocentrotus mamillatus
    Common name: slate pencil urchin
    Scientific name: Heterocentrotus mamillatus
  31. Heart urchin, Echinocardium cordatum, Raja Ampat Indonesia.
    Common name: Heart Urchin
    Scientific name: Lovenia elongata
  32. Variegated sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus
    Common name: variegated urchin
    Scientific name: Lytechinus variegatus
  33. Test (hard shell) of red heart urchin or cake urchin, large heart urchin (Meoma ventricosa) undersea, Caribbean Sea, Cuba, Playa Cueva de los peces
    Common name: West Indian Sea Egg
    Scientific name: Meoma ventricosa
  34. Red Sea Urchins
    Common name: Red Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Mesocentrotus franciscanus
  35. Blue Tuxedo Urchin
(Mespilia globulus)
    Common name: blue tuxedo urchin
    Scientific name: Mespilia globulus
  36. Common name: Bald-patch urchin
    Scientific name: Microcyphus rousseaui
  37. Group of sea urchins underwater ( purple sea urchin  Paracentrotus lividus), eastern Atlantic Ocean, Spain, Galicia
    Common name: Purple sea urchin
    Scientific name: Paracentrotus lividus
  38. Imperial Sea Urchin (Phyllacanthus imperialis), Sulawesi Indonesia
    Common name: Imperial Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Phyllacanthus imperialis
  39. Common name: Cidaroid Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Plococidaris verticillata
  40. Common name: Crown-spined Pencil Urchin
    Scientific name: Prionocidaris baculosa
  41. View of pencil urchin behind corals
    Common name: Pencil Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Prionocidaris bispinosa
  42. Underwater marine life, Psammechinus microtuberculatus commonly called green sea urchin, Mediterranean Sea
    Common name: Green Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Psammechinus microtuberculatus
  43. Common name: Indiana Urchin
    Scientific name: Pseudoboletia indiana
  44. stained collector urchin (Pseudoboletia maculata) from Cebu, Philippines isolated on white background
    Common name: Spotted Sea Urchin
    Scientific name: Pseudoboletia maculata
  45. Common name: Salmacis Belli
    Scientific name: Salmacis belli
  46. shrimp inside the urchin
    Common name: Urchin Banded Shrimp
    Scientific name: Salmacis sphaeroides
  47. Common name: Sculpsitechinus auritus
    Scientific name: Sculpsitechinus auritus
  48. Purple Urchin on a Rock
    Common name: Purple heart urchin
    Scientific name: Spatangus purpureus
  49. Underwater Mediterranean purple sea urchin - Sphaerechinus granularis
    Common name: violet sea urchin
    Scientific name: Sphaerechinus granularis
  50. OURSIN VIOLET strongylocentrotus purpuratus
    Common name: Purple sea urchin
    Scientific name: Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
  51. Red lance urchin, Small lance sea urchin, Stylocidaris affinis.Sea-urchin
    Common name: red lance urchin
    Scientific name: Stylocidaris affinis
  52. Flower Urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus)
    Common name: Flower Urchin
    Scientific name: Toxopneustes pileolus
  53. Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla)
    Common name: Collector Urchin
    Scientific name: Tripneustes gratilla
  54. White Sea Urchin Tripneustes ventricosus in a coral reef
    Common name: sea egg
    Scientific name: Tripneustes ventricosus