Sea Urchinバフンウニ

Species Data

Classification

Camarodonta / Strongylocentrotidae Source

Size

Test about 4 cm in diameter and about 2 cm high, with a flattened shape like a squashed bun

Diet

Herbivore Herbivorous, feeding mainly on seaweeds such as red algae and coralline algae, and sometimes on carrion

Distribution

Found from the Sea of Japan coast of Hokkaido south to Kyushu, and along the coasts of Korea and China, commonly on rocky shores from the intertidal zone to shallow subtidal water. Source

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

• Despite its unflattering name ("horse-dung sea urchin"), it has long been prized as food—10th-century records list it as a tribute good from Wakasa Province. Source
• Because it tastes bitter raw, it is preserved in brine or alcohol before eating; commercial harvesting in Japan dates back to the 1600s. Source

FAQ

Where does the purple sea urchin live?

It lives on rocky shores from the intertidal zone down to about 20 m, ranging from Hokkaido's Sea of Japan coast to Kyushu, Korea, and China. Source

Is it eaten in Japan?

Yes—despite being bitter when raw, it has been harvested as food since the Edo period and even appears in 10th-century tribute records from Wakasa Province. Source

How many operating facilities are registered here?

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1 Source

Books & gear

• Sea Urchin book
• binoculars