Variegated Sea Urchins are in the family of Echinoderms just like sand dollars and sea stars. Variegated Sea Urchins are one of the most common sea urchins in Florida. They are a peaceful animal around 3 inches in diameter and are generally nocturnal. They are a reddish-purple color but come in color variations such as white and pink. The spines make the sea urchin a very recognizable marine animal.

Sea urchins are spherical shaped animals with a skeleton composed of plates of calcium carbonate. There is an opening on the top for the anus and at the bottom there is an opening for the animal's mouth. The skeletal structure underneath the spines and tube feet is called a "test."

There are bands of spines that run from the mouth end (which is usually facing the oceans bottom) to the anal end of the animal. These spines can also regenerate themselves. In between the bands of spines are rows of tube feet or PODIA. These tube feet or Podia assist the sea urchin in locomotion and are used for protection against predators. Sometimes these spines are tipped with a small glandular bulb which is filled with venom.

The spines sit on the small spherical ball and are moved by muscles attached to their bases. Most sea urchins have several different sizes of spines.

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View Photo Of A Sea Urchin On The Beach
View Photo Of A Sea Urchin Close Up
View Photo Of A Sea Urchin With Sea Shells
View Photo Of A Sea Urchin On A Rock
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Variegated Sea Urchins eat algae from the sandy sea floor and from coral reefs. They are also known to graze on sea grasses. The pick up shells and small pebbles and cover themselves to hide from predators, thus, the name "Decorator Sea Urchin." They can securely place themselves on rocks and other types of substrates and they can resist tidal and wave action. Sea urchins will also burrow deep into the sand looking for algae and animal remains.

They can be found on the wet sand on the beach and wedged in rock crevices, beyond the waves in shallow water and can be found in water that is several miles deep.

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View Photo Of A Sea Urchin On A Rock
View Photo Of A Sea Urchin With Sea Weed
View Photo Of A Sea Urchin Skeleton
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While snorkeling from the beach to 6 feet of water around several beaches in the Tampa area, we have not seen excessive amounts of Variegated Sea Urchins or an over population in one area. We have found a healthy amount of sea urchins in these shallow waters close to shore. We have found all sizes and up to 3 inches and variations in color. We have seen them in bare sandy ocean bottoms to areas of healthy sea grasses. We have not seen excessive damage to sea grasses from sea urchins grazing.

We have found many on the sandy beaches and mud flats during low tide as they wait for the tides to come back in. Some Variegated Sea Urchins will hide themselves by wedging themselves in rock crevices in the surf line. Some sea urchins were active and moving and busy decorating themselves with sea shells, sand pebbles, pieces of coral and even small plants. Any that were on the dry sand were gently placed back into the ocean and past where the waves break so that the sun and heat wouldn't dry them out, or worse.

Article Written By Dawn La Follette