Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus,purple sea urchins, live in shallow waters, rocky waters, and kelp forests along the Pacific coast down from Alaska to Mexico. They often live in waters with trong waves. They feed on algae and kelp. They have five they release waste and gametes from their top. They appear to have a hard exoskeleton but this is really a mesoderm endoskeleton because it is embedded in their skin. Their spikes are for movement and protection.
Purple sea urchins breed around January, February, and March. They are ready to breed when they have grown to about 25cm in diameter. They reproduce by releasing their gametes into the water where the sperm and eggs meet and fertilize at random. Once fertilized, the egg begins its growth into a sea urchin.
Purple sea urchins breed around January, February, and March. They are ready to breed when they have grown to about 25cm in diameter. They reproduce by releasing their gametes into the water where the sperm and eggs meet and fertilize at random. Once fertilized, the egg begins its growth into a sea urchin.