Violet Sea Urchin Sphaerechinus granularis

The Violet Sea Urchin, also called the Purple Sea Urchin, is native to northeastern Atlantic coasts, including the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. It is violet with purple, white or white-tipped spikes and grows to 15cm diameter. It eats algae off rocks and often camouflages itself with bits of algae and shell.

Two other species of Sea Urchin are also called the Purple: Paracentrotus lividus, also of the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (grows to 7cm) and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus of North America's Pacific coast.