Sea Urchin Spines Are a Species of the Coral Reef

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Each spine is on a ball socket. Ne but rich says that spines themselves can do different things, and sea urchins have gone through a whole bunch of evolutionary steps to diversify in the purpose of all those different spints. So when you look at a sea urchin, you're not just seeing a ball with spikes on it. You're actually seeing a highly evolved organism that has made the best out of the equipment that evolution handed it.

The hedgehogs of the sea: echinoids are spiky, spiny, pokey, be-toothed, venomous, mysterious, gorgeous evolutionary marvels. And Dr. Rich Mooi of the California Academy of Arts & Sciences is one of their biggest champions. Come stroll through the offices for a face-to-face encounter with this infectious expert. We talk sand dollars, uni, doves of peace, fire urchins, kelp forests, tiny hats, butt placement, foot eyes and how to find your niche, even if it’s miles below the surface on a rotting log.

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