(Buvika - The Trondheim fjord / 17 meters / 9.28.2005)

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Ophiuroidea

Order: Echinoida

Family: Echinidae

Scientific name: Echinus esculentus

 

Norwegian: rød kråkebolle

Distribution: The common sea urchin is well known along the entire Norwegian coast. It lives on all depths down to at least 1200 meters. It seems to thrives in a large variety of habitats.

Characteristics: It is the largest sea urchin in Norway, reaching a diameter of 16 cm, not including the spines. The spines are relatively short. It sometimes hybridize with the Echinus acutus, producing offspring that are hard to identify.

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