Kai collects sea urchin tests or skeletons found in the seaweed along the beach at the North West Point
Every trip out to this particular stretch of beach at the North West Point results in finding sea urchin skeletons or “tests”. There were hundreds of them this particular day and Kai and Sandra couldn’t believe their eyes at how many had been washed up and were lying in the seaweed.
Some sea urchin tests lie half buried in the sand whilst others were on the seaweed
There are more than 700 species of sea urchins and the name means sea hedgehog, hedgehog being one meaning of the word “urchin”. Some of the most frequently seen colours are black, red, brown, purple and pink.
My favourite sea urchin tests are the greenish ones...........they are so beautiful
Here's a close up ......... it's so interesting especially with that greenish tint.
Did you know that sea urchins in large populations are a good thing as they graze on algae and prevent algae overgrowth on reefs?
Happy shelling,
Marta