Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (green sea urchin)

Found in area 3.

The specimen is very small.  These are the shells or tests of dead sea urchins, and the spines have fallen off.  A few spines still stick to the small urchin.  When alive these urchins look like pincushions.  They are covered with spines that stick out from the shell.  They look a little like hedgehogs.  The spines move and tiny sucker feet grip onto rocks. Green sea urchins grow to a diameter of 3 inches. The small one is one-third that size. It eats algae with 5 teeth centered in the bottom. The structure of the teeth is called Aristotle’s lantern. This species probably blew into our area since they are not commonly found at this beach.