Variegated Sea Urchin Test
Lytechinus variegatus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A round, delicate urchin shell in green, purple or white, patterned with rows of pinprick pores.
- Typical size
- 1–3 in
- How often it turns up
- Common
- Collecting
- Restricted
- Handling
- May be alive
Only collect bare, empty tests; live urchins should be left in the water.
How to tell it apart
- Round dome with rows of tiny paired pores
- Pale green, purple or white
- Very fragile once the spines drop
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for sand dollars. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park · Tarpon Springs
- Beer Can Island (Greer Island) · Longboat Key
- Boca Grande Public Beach · Boca Grande
- Cayo Costa State Park · Cayo Costa
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park · St. George Island
- Fort De Soto North Beach · Tierra Verde
- Keewaydin Island · Naples
- North Captiva Island Beach · North Captiva
- T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park · Port St. Joe
- Tarpon Bay Road Beach · Sanibel
- Tigertail Beach · Marco Island
Found one?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
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More sand dollars in the field guide
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