Heart urchin facts for kids

Quick facts for kidsLoveniidae
	Echinocardium cordatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Echinoidea
Order:	Spatangoida
Family:	Loveniidae ; Lambert 1905

Heart urchins are burrowing echinoids. This life-style is similar to that of sand dollars, but the heart urchins belong to another group. Heart urchins belong to the Family Loveniidae in the Order Spatangoida.

Echinocardium is the standard British heart urchin on sandy shores. Its spicules are converted to soft form, and they have sticky tube-feet which pass food to their gut. They can burrow up to five times their own height, and still keep connection with the surface for oxygenated water and food.

Pelagic early pluteus larva of Echinocardium cordatum

Spatangus purpureus: Heart urchin, from the Belgian continental shelf.

Images for kids

Brissus latecarinatus (Brissidae)
Eupatagus mooreanus (Eupatagidae)
Echinocardium cordatum (Loveniidae)
Phrissocystis sp. (Macropneustidae)
Maretia planulata (Maretiidae)
Aeropsis rostrata (Aeropsidae)
Fossile de Micraster leskei (Micrasteridae)
Prymnaster investigatoris (Schizasteridae)
Fossile d'Heteraster oblongus (Toxasteridae)