A purple-spined sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata ) at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA picture).
E-1610 PURPLE SEA URCHIN, Arbacia punctulata
They have long formidable looking spines which rapidly moves about the aquarium. Their powerful teeth scrape away algae, and chew into sponges. Although they add action and beauty to the salt water aquarium, they have been classically used in embryology. Specimens are fertile mid-January through April.
ANATOMY
Fig. 3 A sea urchin ( Arbacia punctulata ) morphology and anatomy. Left: Oral and aboral surfaces of the test, with spines partly removed to show detailed structure. Right: Vertical section of the animal to show internal organs. From W.M. Reid in
