Arbacia punctulata Purple-spined Sea Urchin
     This urchin, although not usually found on the open beaches of northeast Florida except following storms, is relatively common near inlets where rocky structure is present. The illustrated specimen was at collected at the base of a dock piling in St. Augustine Inlet.

Purple-spined Sea Urchin [Arbacia punctulata]

Vilano Beach, St. Johns Co., Florida 6/28/2004 (about 70 mm.)