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Purple Sea Urchin

Common Name: Purple Sea Urchin

Scientific Name: Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Order: Echinodermata

Range: Alaska to Baja California

Diet: Mostly eats algae

Facts: 1. Sea otter is one of the main predators of purple sea urchins. Sea otter bones have been found stained purple from the sea urchins pigment. 2. Has 23,500 genes which is close to as many genes as humans 3. Their favorite food is kelp and they are known to destroy kelp forest by eating them

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