Paracentrotus lividus

Description

Paracentrotus lividus is a globular sea urchin of up to 7 cm in diameter. Spines are long (3 cm), thick and smooth. Its colour is variable: violet, green or brown. Rock sea urchin is an edible species living on stones, calcareous algae or rocks, often self-covered by shell remains, or algae. According to bedrock nature, wether it is soft or not, rock sea urchin may bore, with its spines, a hole large enough to hide in during day-time. Especially active at night, it mainly feeds on red algae. It may live in groups in rock pools but also down to 30 m deep.

Distribution

Paracentrotus lividus is found in the Atlantic Ocean up to West Ireland, rarer in the English Channel, and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Classification

Source : World Register of Marine Species

! La connexion au serveur WoRMS est momentanément indisponible !

Authors

Text : Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2005 - 2022.

Photos : © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with his kind permission.
Websites and reference works : Consult bibliography

How to cite this page

Bay-Nouailhat A., September 2005, Description of Paracentrotus lividus, [On line] https://european-marine-life.org/30/paracentrotus-lividus.php, consulted on 2022 September 25.