Spatangidae

Spatangidae
Spatangus purpureus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Order: Spatangoida
Family: Spatangidae
Gray, 1825
Genera
  • Granopatagus Lambert, 1915
  • Plethotaenia H.L. Clark, 1917
  • Spatangus Gray, 1825
Synonyms
  • Prospatangidae Lambert, 1905

The Spatangidae are a family of heart urchins. There are three recognised genera within the family; Granopatagus, Plethotaenia, and Spatangus. Additionally, Prospatangus was previously a recognised genus within the Spatangidae, but is now accepted as part of the genus Spatangus.

The Spatangidae are marine heart urchins that feed on subsurface deposits and graze.