Species · GBIF taxon 2278856
Green Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensisAlso known as Dröbach Sea Urchin, Northern Sea Urchin
Green sea urchins are globular, spine-covered echinoderms that dominate rocky subtidal zones in cold northern waters. They use their specialized five-toothed mouthparts, known as Aristotle's lantern, to graze heavily on kelp forests and other marine algae. When populations spike, these voracious grazers can completely strip kelp beds, creating barren underwater landscapes.
SubtidalSpinyKelp-Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bull kelp
- Sugar kelp
- Coralline algae
Predators
- Sea otters
- Wolf eels
- Sunflower sea stars
ThreatsOcean acidification, warming sea temperatures, and overharvesting
HabitatsRocky reefs, kelp forests, tide pools, and subtidal zones
Life span20 to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyStrongylocentrotidae
- SpeciesStrongylocentrotus droebachiensis
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 handled; observe without touching.
Responsible observation
- Look in Tide Pools: Search sheltered rocky crevices at low tide in northern coastal areas.
- Do Not Handle: Avoid picking them up, as their spines break easily and can cause painful puncture wounds.
- Watch for Movement: Observe closely to see their tiny tube feet waving between the green spines.
Predator Jerry Kirkhart from Los Osos, Calif. / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Predator Marshal Hedin from San Diego / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Prey 
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Braden J. Judson · cc0
Close Relative (c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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