S.franciscanus S.purpuratus
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The sea urchins are hermaphrodites and broadcast spawners Spawing takes place during the summer. They spawn from June to September, usually peaking in the middle depending on the area and abundance of food. They larva will spend a certain amount of time in the water column feeding before settling to a habitat; this is known as planktotrophic. By dispersing a large amount of eggs and sperm into the water it gives this species a chance to spread it’s genes and a greater chance that more offspring will survive. The purple urchin can grow up to 4" in diameter. The red Urchin amy live to be 7-10 years old, but it takes 4-5 years to be ready commercially.