Some animals can be finicky eaters, but sharks are not too picky. Tiger sharks and bull sharks are referred to as the trashcans of the sea since they will eat next to anything they can squeeze into their enormous mouths. One thing sharks don’t have a taste for unless they are starving to death are humans. Most shark attacks result in the victim being taste-tested and spit out once the shark realizes how bad we taste. Let’s find out if Alaskan sharks eat venomous sea urchins.
What Are Sea Urchins?
Sea urchins look like something from outer space and spend most of their time on rocks or coral along the seabed in shallow water or the deep sea. The symetrically-shaped-pickly-orbs come in many different colors and sizes and may not even have spines. These alien-looking creatures have been around for 450 million years. Sea urchins slowly walk along the sea floor using unique suctioned feet.
These invertebrates belong to the Echinodermata family, including sea cucumbers, sand dollars, potato urchins, flower urchins, and starfish. In reality, over 1,000 types of sea urchins are in the wild. Likely, we have not seen them all. They are typically found near the seashore or very deep in the ocean and in all of Earth’s oceans. The deepest sea urchin has been found at a depth of 7,340 feet. Because sea urchins are so delicate, there isn’t a foolproof way to collect them from so deep for studying.
The term sea urchin actually means sea hedgehog, which they resemble. Another fun fact is that the sea urchin doesn’t have a brain. Also, their mouth is found on the bottom of their bodies, and they excrete waste from the top. Their general makeup is bizarre and differs wildly from deep-sea urchins to shallow-water urchins. The deep sea variety can morph its shape flatter to hunt under the sand or make itself into some other weird shape to better adapt to its surroundings.
What Do Sea Urchins Do?
Sea urchins can appear to be beautiful quilled shells to some and may make the mistake of grabbing one. If you’ve ever stepped on or caught one, you will remember it forever. A sting from the venomous quills can cause severe pain and burning at the site. The spines can break off and cause severe symptoms as they migrate towards bone or nerves. Surgery may need to be performed to remove the spines if they go too deep. It’s not a fun way to spend your vacation.
Not all sea urchins are venomous. The brightly colored tropical varieties tend to be venomous; some have venom in their mouths and can bite. Vinegar will dissolve the smaller superficial spines, but the others must be removed by hand. Next time you’re in paradise, watch where you step or get yourself some rubber-bottomed swim shoes.
Do Sharks Eat Sea Urchins?
This may come as a surprise, but many types of sharks absolutely eat sea urchins. They even eat ones as big as their heads. Lobsters are another threat to sea urchins, but it has been documented that sharks consume the most sea urchins out of their other predators. They seem to be completely unbothered by the quills or venom. They eat the entire sea urchin every time and come back for more.
Nurse, horned, leopard, bamboo, and other seafloor-dwelling sharks swim along the sandy seafloor searching for food. They eat mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish that they find, and they also eat sea urchins and anything in their family. Large sharks like the great white or bull shark probably don’t eat sea urchins unless they have something wrong with them and cannot hunt for larger prey.
Though these sharks make a tasty, prickly snack out of sea urchins, it’s still up in the air whether or not the venom in some of the sea urchins’ spines and mouths affects the hungry sharks. From what it appears, they are immune to the spines and venom.
Sharks and Sea Urchins Are Important to the Ocean’s Ecosystem
Sharks control sea urchin numbers, creating a safe life balance in the ocean’s ecosystem. Sea urchins feed on kelp that grows on rocks or in coral, which helps keep the ecosystem in balance and not grow out of control. However, sea urchins can strip an area of kelp completely, leaving bare rocks and hurting the ecosystem. This is why it is so important that sharks can keep the sea urchin’s numbers down.
Shark fishing isn’t legal everywhere, but it still happens. If sharks are overfished, the entire ecosystem suffers because what would typically be a meal for them becomes overpopulated, harming other ocean life. It is all a chain reaction, and it is crucial not to tamper with it.
Do We Eat Sea Urchins, Too?
Some humans also enjoy the delicacy of sea urchins or their eggs, called roe. The inside of a sea urchin is said to be creamy and custardy, but it is still not exactly appetizing to most people. In Japan, the savory treat is called uni and is served at sushi restaurants. It may sound like a fun experience or a nightmare, depending on how you feel about eating the salty reproductive organs of an animal.
Sea urchins from cold water are said to be meatier than those pulled from tropical waters. The roe is also harvested and eaten in sushi restaurants. In the Mediterranean, festivals for the spiky sea hedgehogs take place, and you men dive in with sacks to collect the sea urchins by hand. They eat them on the spot in a celebration. It’s doubtful that sharks do this or hold festivals for the capture of the sea urchins, but they do agree with those who love them. Whether you’re a fan or not, sea urchins are a unique snack not served in many places. Check out these recipes.
