About Sea Urchins

The sea urchin is one of the most easily identifiable sea creatures. Found in oceans around the world, there are many different species of sea urchin. This hard-shelled creature is related to the sea star and varies widely in both size and color. Despite the sea urchin's distinctive spines, people around the world prize the urchin as a culinary delicacy.

  1. Features

    • Sea urchins are found in all oceans, living on the seabed in both shallow and deep waters. Underneath their spines, the sea urchin has a hard, globe-shaped body made of plates called tests. The spines and legs protrude from this body, allowing the urchin to move slowly. The approximately 700 urchin species vary in size, with the largest, the red sea urchin, having a test as large as 7 inches. When you add the spines to this, the red sea urchin is even bigger. Sea urchins are echinoderms, a family that also includes sea stars and sand dollars. The distinctive spines of the sea urchin have a variety of uses including protection, motion and trapping floating particles for food.

    Warning

    • Not all sea urchins are venomous, but all have spines that can be dangerous. Divers and swimmers may step on sea urchins. This can cause the many spines to break off under the skin, leading to irritation and infection. Some sea urchins have venom in their spines as well, although most have only enough to cause minor irritation. The most dangerous urchin, the flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus), lives near coral reefs and can cause serious injury if touched.

    Misconceptions

    • Due to the common occurrence of injury by sea urchin, there are many misconceptions as to how to treat such injuries. One of the most widely held misconceptions is that human urine neutralizes sea urchin venom. However, there is no evidence that remedies such as urine, mud or ammonia are effective.

    Treatment

    • In case of sea urchin injury, patients are advised to carefully remove the sea urchin spines, if possible. Thoroughly and gently clean the area of injury with soap and water, and treat areas of broken skin with antibiotic ointments. Small pieces of broken spine remaining in the skin can be treated with vinegar, which softens the spine. Leave the wound open and keep it clean with water. If the injured area becomes infected or inflamed, or if pain increases over time, seek medical attention. Most cases of sea urchin injury are mild, resulting in only discomfort and minor irritation, but there have been cases of paralysis and even death resulting from more extreme injuries.

    Uses

    • Sea urchins have many predators, the most notable of which is man. Although not widely available in American restaurants, the sea urchin is a dietary staple in Europe and Asia. Urchins are known as uni in Japanese cuisine and should be firm and plump, not soft, when served. Italian chefs call the urchin ricci and often prepare both the flesh and the gonads of the urchin in their cuisine. Thanks to improvement in preserving techniques and to expanded areas of harvesting, the sea urchin is increasing in popularity and availability.