The Common Sea Urchin is a round orange-pink sea creature that is also known as the Edible Sea Urchin. It is widespread around the English coast and is mainly found under stones, among seaweeds in depths of over a thousand metres. It can also be found in rock pools.

The Common Sea Urchin’s body can grow up to ten centimetres in width and although it is usually an orange-pink colour, it sometimes can be yellow, green or purple. The body is covered in short, reddish coloured bristly spines that have white bases. The Common Sea Urchin uses its spines and ‘tube feet’ to move along surfaces. Tube feet are small tiny fluid-filled muscular tubes that can grip onto rocks and other hard objects. The Common Sea Urchin has a mouth and teeth which are situated on the underside of its body and in the middle of each tooth there is a fleshy part that acts like a tongue.

The name ‘Edible Sea Urchin’ implies that this sea urchin can be eaten, but in fact it is only the eggs (roe) that are edible. The eggs are set out in the sea where they develop into larvae. The larvae become part of zooplankton for a while before settling on the seabed to develop into adults.