UK Seas

Discover the wonderful sea creatures that inhabit the UK seas and shores

UK seas is a guide to the fauna and flora found around UK coasts. While the majority of species are marine, some species are included that are regularly encountered on land by the coast, so you’ll find descriptions of non-marine species such as reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants as well.

Sea potato

Echinocardium cordatum

Type

Echinoderms, Urchins

Description

A type of sea urchin, with a fragile test (shell) normally buried beneath the sandy or muddy seabed.

Mass strandings of sea potatoes sometimes occur on local beaches, for reasons which remain a mystery.

Location

Best encountered as a wave-washed specimen on the beach