Creatures with Spikes

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea Urchin recently washed up onto the beach Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. The spines that radiate from the body are used for protection, for moving, and for trapping drifting algae to eat. Among the spines are five paired rows of tiny tube feet with suckers that help with movement, capturing food, and holding onto the seafloor. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Bits of sand inside a piece of a Sea Urchin shell on the beach North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. The spines that radiate from the body are used for protection, for moving, and for trapping drifting algae to eat. Among the spines are five paired rows of tiny tube feet with suckers that help with movement, capturing food, and holding onto the seafloor. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

A tiny seashell inside a piece of a Sea Urchin shell on the beach Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

The sea urchin is a spiny, hard-shelled animal that lives on the rocky seafloor, from shallow waters to great depths. These globular marine invertebrates move very slowly along the seabed. There are about 700 different species of sea urchins worldwide. Many sea urchins have venomous spines. The biggest sea urchin is the red sea urchin (Strongylocentratus franciscanus); it has a test (skeleton) about 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. Adult sea urchins have five-sided radial symmetry. Their skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. The spines that radiate from the body are used for protection, for moving, and for trapping drifting algae to eat. Among the spines are five paired rows of tiny tube feet with suckers that help with movement, capturing food, and holding onto the seafloor. Tiny pedicellarines are small stinging structures that are used for defense and for obtaining food. Like all echinoderms, sea urchins do not have a brain. The mouth is claw-like and is located on the underside; it has 5 tooth-like plates that point inwards and are called Aristotle's lantern. The anus and the genital pores are on the top of the sea urchin. Sea urchins eat plant and animal matter, including kelp, decaying matter, algae, dead fish, sponges, mussels, and barnacles. Sea urchins are eaten by crabs, sunflower stars, snails, sea otters, some birds, fish (including wolf eels), and people. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Between the spines and often easily visible near the mouth, are located 'three jawed forceps' called pedicellaria, which are used by the urchin to clean the epidermis and grasp food particles. The sea urchin is a spiny, hard-shelled animal that lives on the rocky seafloor, from shallow waters to great depths. These globular marine invertebrates move very slowly along the seabed. There are about 700 different species of sea urchins worldwide. Many sea urchins have venomous spines. The biggest sea urchin is the red sea urchin (Strongylocentratus franciscanus); it has a test (skeleton) about 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. Adult sea urchins have five-sided radial symmetry. Their skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. The spines that radiate from the body are used for protection, for moving, and for trapping drifting algae to eat. Among the spines are five paired rows of tiny tube feet with suckers that help with movement, capturing food, and holding onto the seafloor. Tiny pedicellarines are small stinging structures that are used for defense and for obtaining food. Like all echinoderms, sea urchins do not have a brain. The mouth is claw-like and is located on the underside; it has 5 tooth-like plates that point inwards and are called Aristotle's lantern. The anus and the genital pores are on the top of the sea urchin. Sea urchins eat plant and animal matter, including kelp, decaying matter, algae, dead fish, sponges, mussels, and barnacles. Sea urchins are eaten by crabs, sunflower stars, snails, sea otters, some birds, fish (including wolf eels), and people. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Sea urchins skin has hard, chalky plates, and is called the test or skeleton. Closeup of test. In life, a tube foot or gill extends through each of the small holes, and a spine is supported by each of the raised tubercles.

Sea Urchin hide in lava rock crevices

Sea Urchins hide in the lava rock holes and crevices

Between the spines and often easily visible near the mouth, are located 'three jawed forceps' called pedicellaria, which are used by the urchin to clean the epidermis and grasp food particles. Thanks to the below site for the photo of the pedicellaria in motion, and all the information http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjul00/urchin1.html

Between the spines and often easily visible near the mouth, are located 'three jawed forceps' called pedicellaria, which are used by the urchin to clean the epidermis and grasp food particles.

Sea urchins have adhesive tube feet.

Between the spines and often easily visible near the mouth, are located 'three jawed forceps' called pedicellaria, which are used by the urchin to clean the epidermis and grasp food particles.

Sea urchins have adhesive tube feet.

Between the spines and often easily visible near the mouth, are located 'three jawed forceps' called pedicellaria, which are used by the urchin to clean the epidermis and grasp food particles.

Walking along the beach on the morning after a beautiful storm I came upon a Porcupine Blowfish washed up far onto Sunset Beach. North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Walking along the beach on the morning after a beautiful storm I came upon a Porcupine Blowfish washed up far onto Sunset Beach. I then put it back into the ocean to get some of the sand off of it. North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Porcupine Blowfish tossed in the waves at Sunset Beach the day after a beautiful storm North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Porcupine Blowfish tossed in the waves at Sunset Beach the day after a beautiful storm North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Porcupine Blowfish tossed in the waves at Sunset Beach the day after a beautiful storm North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Porcupine Blowfish tossed in the waves at Sunset Beach the day after a beautiful storm North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Porcupine Blowfish tossed in the waves at Sunset Beach the day after a beautiful storm North Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i

Eel Kahuku Beach walk Adventure, North Shore of O'ahu