Pink Sea Urchin

The pink sea urchin lives on intertidal shores and in coastal waters to a depth of 50m, hiding under rocks or gravel, and is endemic to the waters surrounding Japan. As the name suggests, the spines of this sea urchin are red in colour, and 1.5cm long; slightly shorter than that of the purple sea urchin. The diameter of the pink sea urchin (excluding the spines) is about 6 – 7 cm. The shell is light pink in colour and flat, which is why this urchin is also called “flat sea urchin” in Japanese. It is consumed raw or processed (salt cured) in the Oki Islands. Compared to other sea urchins, the pink sea urchin is very delicious as it has a subtle sweetness and less off-flavours.