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Heart urchin facts for kids

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Loveniidae
Echinocardium cordatum.jpg
Echinocardium cordatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Echinoidea
Order:
Spatangoida
Family:
Loveniidae

Lambert 1905

Heart urchins are fascinating sea creatures. They are a special type of Sea urchin that loves to burrow into the sand. You might think they are like sand dollars because they also dig. However, heart urchins belong to a different scientific group. They are part of the Loveniidae Family. This family is within the larger Order called Spatangoida.

Discovering Heart Urchins

Heart urchins are unique animals that live in the ocean. They are known for their distinct heart shape. These creatures are echinoids, which means they are related to starfish and sea cucumbers. They spend most of their lives hidden away in the sand.

Life in the Sand

Heart urchins are amazing diggers. They can burrow deep into the sand. Some can even dig five times their own height! This helps them stay safe from predators. Even when buried, they keep a connection to the surface. This connection lets them get oxygen and food from the water.

Meet the British Heart Urchin

One common type of heart urchin is Echinocardium. You can often find it on sandy shores in British waters. This particular heart urchin has soft spicules. Spicules are like tiny spines. It also has sticky tube-feet. These tube-feet are very important for how it finds food.

How Heart Urchins Eat

The sticky tube-feet of the Echinocardium are used for feeding. They help the urchin collect tiny bits of food. These food particles are then passed along to its gut. This method helps the heart urchin get enough to eat while staying buried.

Heart Urchin Babies: The Pluteus Larva

Like many sea creatures, heart urchins start small. They begin their lives as tiny larvae. These larvae float around in the water. One type is called a pluteus larva. It looks very different from an adult heart urchin.

Echinocardium cordatum (Pennant, 1777) early pluteus width ca
Pelagic early pluteus larva of Echinocardium cordatum
Spatangus purpureus
Spatangus purpureus: A heart urchin from the Belgian continental shelf.

Images for kids

  • Brissus latecarinatus

    Brissus latecarinatus (Brissidae)

  • Eupatagus mooreanus fossil heart urchin (Eocene; Florida, USA) 1 (16765728703)

    Eupatagus mooreanus (Eupatagidae)

  • Echinocardium cordatum

    Echinocardium cordatum (Loveniidae)

  • Phrissocystis

    Phrissocystis sp. (Macropneustidae)

  • Tiny maretia heart urchin (Maretia planulata)

    Maretia planulata (Maretiidae)

  • Palhemiastercomanchei

    Fossil of Palhemiaster comanchei (Hemiasteridae)

  • Oliver2012 fig5 Aeropsis rostrata (Wyville Thomson, 1877) with Kelliola symmetros (Jeffreys, 1876)

    Aeropsis rostrata (Aeropsidae)

  • Micraster leskei MHNT Turonien Puys 76

    Fossil of Micraster leskei (Micrasteridae)

  • Prymnaster investigatoris dPNG12 2718

    Prymnaster investigatoris (Schizasteridae)

  • Heteraster oblongus.3 - Cretacico inferior

    Fossil of Heteraster oblongus (Toxasteridae)

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Heart urchin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.