Heart+Urchin

**Common Name:** Heart Urchin
 * Phylum: Echinodermata **

**Scientific Name:** Moira atropos

**Class:** Echinoidea

**Location:** The common Heart Urchin occurs in all oceans

**Size:** Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from 3 to 10 centimetres (1.2 to 3.9 in) across

**Habitat:** Living on sandy bottoms where they can burrow themselves

**Living Requirements:** mud or muddy sand bottoms so they can burrow themselves up to 6 inches

**Life Cycle:** Sea urchins are dioecious, having separate male and female sexes, although there is generally no easy way to distinguish the two . **Male and Female Differences:** No easy way to tell them apart


 * Interesting Facts: **
 * They have either an oval or heart shaped body (hints the name)
 * They may sometimes be confused with sand dollars by some people
 * They live in burrows lined in mucus.

**Human Impact:** They are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Trampling by careless visitors also have an impact on local populations.




 * Zookeeper Hannah Jones **

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