Invertebrates
Antarctic Sea Urchin
Sterechinus neumayeri · also called Antarctic sea urchins
Grazing slowly across the Antarctic seafloor at almost any depth researchers care to look, an Antarctic sea urchin has become one of the most closely studied invertebrates in the Southern Ocean, prized as a living indicator of changing seawater chemistry.
Overview
The Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, is a Least Concern invertebrate native to ocean and polar habitat across coastal and continental shelf waters surrounding Antarctica. Its status as a key model species for Antarctic marine research, its remarkably broad depth range, and its usefulness as an indicator of ocean acidification make it one of the more scientifically significant invertebrates found anywhere in Antarctic waters.
An unassuming animal at the centre of Antarctic research
Rarely noticed by anyone outside the scientific community, the Antarctic sea urchin has quietly become one of the most frequently sampled animals in Antarctic marine biology, its slow growth and sensitive skeleton making it an ideal subject for tracking long-term change in the Southern Ocean.
Status
Least Concern, remaining abundant across suitable seafloor habitat, though the species is a subject of ongoing scientific interest regarding its sensitivity to ocean acidification.
Antarctic Sea Urchin: common questions
Why is the Antarctic sea urchin so often studied by researchers?
This species is one of the most commonly studied invertebrates in Antarctic marine research, frequently used as a model species for understanding cold-water physiology and marine biology.
How deep can the Antarctic sea urchin be found?
This species is found across a remarkably broad depth range, from shallow coastal waters down to considerably deeper parts of the Antarctic continental shelf.
Why does the Antarctic sea urchin grow so slowly?
This species grows extremely slowly compared with related sea urchin species in warmer waters, an adaptation linked to the cold, food-limited conditions of its Antarctic environment.
Why is the Antarctic sea urchin important to ocean acidification research?
This species is frequently used in this kind of research because its calcium carbonate skeleton makes it a useful indicator of changing seawater chemistry linked to ocean acidification.