Method of Defense

Echinoderms have many different methods to protect them from many different things. Many sea cucumbers are poisonous. If injured, they can kill fish around them using poison. Sea cucumbers can also defend itself through self-evisceration. The sea cucumber can expel its internal organs. This either satisfies predators or scares them off. The cucumber can then grow a new set of organs. Sea urchins have many spines that distract or stop many, but not all predators.

You can find echinoderms in lots of places. The next time you visit the ocean, try looking for sea stars or sand dollars near shore and in tide pools. Just their looking at them can be thought provoking. Whatever you find, try to return it to the spot you found as not to hurt them. While researching this topic, I found many interesting things I never knew and never even took any thought to, but now I know a lot more.