Species · GBIF taxon 2278772
Black Sea Urchin
Arbacia lixulaAlso known as Black Urchin, Mediterranean Black Sea Urchin
Black sea urchins cling tightly to rocky shorelines and vertical stone faces, using their strong tube feet to withstand heavy wave action. Their deep black, hemispherical shells are covered in sharp, uniform spines that lack venom but can easily puncture human skin. These herbivores graze intensively on encrusting algae, maintaining open, barrens-like rocky habitats in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
MarineNocturnalInvertebrate
Licensed referenceFrédéric Ducarme / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Coralline algae
- Biofilm
- Sessile invertebrates
Predators
- Seastars
- Sea bream
- Octopuses
ThreatsHabitat degradation, coastal development, and ocean acidification
HabitatsShallow rocky reefs, tide pools, and vertical stone cliffs
Life span8 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyArbaciidae
- SpeciesArbacia lixula
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp spines can easily puncture skin if stepped on or handled; observe without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Sharp, brittle spines can easily puncture human skin and break off, leading to painful localized inflammation or infection.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by its uniform, jet-black coloration, stout spines, and a bare, star-shaped area around the mouth on its underside.
- What to do
- Never step on rocky shallows without protective footwear, and do not attempt to pry them from rocks with bare hands.
Responsible observation
- Look in shallows: Search for them on vertical rock faces and inside crevices just below the low-tide mark.
- Do not handle: Avoid touching or picking them up, as the brittle spines can break off under the skin.
- Watch for bare rock: Look for the light-colored grazing scars they leave behind on algae-covered stones.
Image unavailableCompetitor 
Predator (c) Bernard Picton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bernard Picton · cc-by
Predator (c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julien Renoult · cc-byClose Relative
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