Long-spined sea urchin
Red Sea marine life

Long-spined sea urchin

Black ball of needle-like spines, easy to step on, hard to forget.

All Red Sea marine life

About this species

Common in shallow areas around reef rubble. The spines are long, very sharp and brittle, they break off in the skin and can cause infection. Avoid them by snorkeling above the reef, not standing on the bottom.

Where to find it

Shallow rocky areas and reef rubble, everywhere in the Red Sea.

Safety for snorkelers

Common questions

Long-spined sea urchin: is it dangerous for snorkelers?+

Caution. Spines break off in the skin. Wear water shoes in shallow rocky areas.

Long-spined sea urchin: where can you see it in Egypt?+

Shallow rocky areas and reef rubble, everywhere in the Red Sea. These trips go where this species lives. It is a wild animal, so a sighting is possible and never promised.

More Red Sea species