Purple Heart Urchin
Spatangus Purpureus
< 12 cm
Max size
5–900 m
Depth
Rare
Rarity
Sandy & muddy bottom, Seagrass meadow
Mediterranean Sea, Temperate Atlantic
About
Overview
The Purple Heart Urchin (Spatangus purpureus) is a large, irregular sea urchin known for its distinct heart-shaped test. Unlike typical radially symmetric urchins, this species exhibits bilateral symmetry, with a forward-pointing mouth and a rear-positioned anus, allowing it to move efficiently through soft seafloor sediments.
Distribution
Based on iNaturalist community observations