Scientific name:

Echinus esculentus

About:

A large, round sea-urchin up to 15cm across with short, strong spines. Usually brick-orange in colour, with white bumps which the orange spines are attached to. Lives amongst seaweed and rocks, where it grazes on algae and small shellfish.

How to identify:

<p>The largest British sea-urchin.</p>

Where:

Found on rocky shores, particularly around the north and west.

Fantastic facts:

An edible species, eaten particularly in Spain and Portugal.