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Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable
Illegal species – Fishing, selling and consumption of this species is illegal
Legal
Minimum Size
5cm (diameter without the spines)
Prohibited Consumption Period
April – June and September – November
Sustainable
Minimum Size
5cm (diameter without the spines)
Avoid Consumption Period
March- September
Advice for Consumption
Think before consuming it. Always respect sustainable size limits and breeding seasons.
This is a highly exploited species.
Consume responsibly.
Archipelagos Tips
Common names
FR
Oursin
it
Riccio di mare
es
Erizo de mar común
tr
Kaya denizkestanesi
pt
Ouriço-do-mar-púrpura
nl
Paarse zee-egel
de
–
toxicity
No
iucn info
Not evaluated
Description
Round, greenish, flattened test. Test up to 7 cm in diameter. Spines long and sharp, dark purple to dark green in colouration. Ambulacral plates with 5-6 pairs of pores. Tube feet arranged in arcs of 5-6.
Looks like: Psammechinus miliaris (shore urchin), Arbacia lixula (black sea urchin)
Did you know?
Contrary to its common name, purple sea urchins can be found in a multitude of colors other than purple, varying from blackish-purple, reddish-brown, dark brown, yellow-brown, light brown, and olive green!
Ecological Aspects
Diet
Omnivorous. Feeds on marine plants and animal material.
habitat
Benthic. Found in rocky ocean floor areas. Occasionally found in seagrass beds.
Gonochoric (seperate sexes). Spawns between March through May and late summer or early autumn. Fertilization is external.
Growth Rate: N/A
Longevity & presence
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Max. reported age: 11 years
Distribution: Mediterranean and eastern atlantic. Subtropical and temperate.
appearance changes
While commonly purple, P. lividus can also be dark green, light brown, or dark brown. Despite the outer color, the underlying calcitic skeleton is always pale green.
Reproductive Cycle
Egg count: 1 – 10 million eggs
Reproductive Frequency: Once or twice a year.
Thank you for your contribution. This project is built for the public and should be shaped by its community. We welcome your comments and any information you feel is important to include.
Spotted illegal or undersized seafood? Report it!
Your contribution helps us document illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and protect our seas.
If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, please visit our website: https://archipelago.gr/
Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable
Illegal species – Fishing, selling and consumption of this species is illegal
Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation
Think before you eat – This species faces increasing pressures and should only be consumed responsibly
Bad choice – Consumption of this species is unsustainable
Health concerns – Can accumulate dangerously high levels of toxic substances harmful to health
Alien / Invasive – This species is not from this region and can have a negative impact on the ecosystem and threaten local biodiversity, so it is sustainable to eat
Aquafarms – You will commonly find this species coming from aquafarms