E-Fauna BC Home

Brisaster latifrons (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Heart Urchin
Family: Schizasteridae
Introduction to the Echinoderms of BC

Photograph

© Royal BC Museum     (Photo ID #2204)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Brisaster latifrons in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


This species is an irregular, egg-shaped sea urchin. It is found from Alaska (Aleutian Islands) to southern California and the Gulf of California (Lambert and Austin 2007). Heart Urchins are deposit-feeding species that ingest mud. Lambert and Austin (2007) say: "Heart Urchins are deposit feeders, ingesting mud as they move through it. They live below the mud surface but maintain a chimney to the surface with large modified tube feet to obtain oxygen."

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

Species References

Lambert, P., & Austin W. C. (2007). Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins and Feather Stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Puget Sound. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria.

General References

Google Scholar Search

© 2014 E-Fauna BC  Contact us