Parechinus angulosus, the Cape urchin, is a sea urchin in the family Parechinidae endemic to southern Africa. It is the only species in the genus Parechinus.
Synonyms Cidaris angulosus Leske, 1778 Cidaris angulosus minor Leske, 1778 Echinus angulosus minor (Leske, 1778) Echinus minimus Blainville, 1825 Echinus subangulosus Lamarck, 1816 Parechinus angulosus pallidus H.L. Clark Parechinus annulatus (Mortensen, 1909) Protocentrotus angulosus (Leske, 1778) Protocentrotus annulatus Mortensen, 1909 Psammechinus subangulosus (Lamarck, 1816)
Description The test is round, diameter up to 60 mm, with a dense covering of short sharp spines which do not exceed 20% of test diameter. The test colour is usually green, spines purple, but also green, red or off-white.
Distribution Lüderitz to Durban, intertidal to about 100 m.
Natural history Grazes on seaweeds, and population density affects the rate of kelp settlement. Provides shelter for juvenile abalone Haliotis midae and is an important influence on kelp forest ecology. Abundant on flatter areas of rocky reefs in the Cape. Eaten by West coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii.
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