Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum STARFISH & ALLIES (ECHINODERM)
Class SEA URCHINS & RELATIVES (ECHINOIDEA)
Common name: SEA URCHIN - VARIABLE
Scentific name: LYTECHINUS VARIEGATUS

AQUARUIM VIEW
Location: SEATTLE AQUARIUM

Species Info:

This lifeform is found in the western Atlantic Ocean (near North America). This lifeform is marine and found only in salt water.

Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars (Class Echinoidea) are Echinoderms that have lost their five legs. However, the radial symmetry with five parts is still present in these species.

Starfish group (Phylum Echinoderma) contains some diverse marine creatures. Echinoderms generally have radial symmetry. Some well-known examples of Echinoderms are starfish and sea urchins. There are about 6,000 extant species of Echinoderms (and many additional fossil species). The following classes are contained in this phylum:

   Echinodea:       Sea Urchins (900 species)
   Asteroidea:      Starfish (1,600 species)
   Holothurioidea:  Sea Cucumbers (900 species)
   Ophiuroidea:     Brittle Stars (2,000 species)
   Crinoidea:       Feather Stars and Sea Lilies (600 species)

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

Search Region:
World
Species Range:
Click to enlarge
Photos
(Click on an image below to display at left)

AQUARUIM VIEW

 


Quick Jump:
Click to jump to
OCTOPUS MACULOSA
Backward 10 species
Click to jump to
SAND DOLLAR
ECHINARACHNIUS SPECIES
Backward 1 species
Click to jump to
SAND DOLLAR SPECIES
Forward 1 species
Click to jump to
CRAB - HORSESHOE CRAB
LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS
Forward 10 species