Identification

• Res sea urchins have a radial symmetrical body made up of 10 fused plates or sections. These are covered in long, red spines.
  
  

Size

• This species of urchin reigns as the largest of its kind. The maximum size of the urchin's body is 18 centimeters, and the spines can grow up to 8 centimeters long.
  
  

Movement

• Urchins move around in two ways. They either use their tube feet, located on their underside, or they use their movable spines as stilts.
  
  

Feeding

• Red sea urchins have a mouth located on their underside that is used to feed mainly on seaweed and kelp. The mouth contains five teeth that aid in feeding.
  
  

Habitat

• Red sea urchins live in habitats from just below the tidal line to about 90 meters deep, avoiding rocks and sediments in areas where there is high wave activity. They are found off the northwestern coast of North America.