Spatangus purpureus

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Spatangus purpureus	Common name	Purple heart urchin
MCS Code	ZB219	Recent Synonyms	Sipho turgidulus var. minor
Phylum	Echinodermata	Subphylum	Echinozoa
Superclass		Class	Echinoidea
Subclass		Order	Spatangoida
Suborder		Family	Spatangidae
Genus	Spatangus	Species	purpureus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Southward & Campbell, 2006, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Radial, Globose	Feeding method	Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Organic detritus	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Medium(11-20 cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Ursin, 1960, Rees & Dare, 1993, Lawrence, 1987, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on most British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to Spain and the Azores and in the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	0 - 900 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Gravel / shingle, Muddy gravel, Coarse clean sand, Muddy sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	May to July	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	11-20 years	Age at reproductive maturity	3-5 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period June to August Duration of larval stage
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Thorson, 1946, Fish & Fish, 1996, Southward & Campbell, 2006, Picton, 1993, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Julie Bremner, unpub data, Tillin et al., 2006