Are Sea Urchins USING TOOLS?!

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You might have noticed that sea urchins sometimes make some interesting fashion choices, covering themselves with all sorts of odds and ends, and it turns out they have a lot of different reasons for doing this.
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[@SciShow]

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[@KingOfGamesss]

To get to the other side

[@eklectiktoni]

So basically they wear clothing for the same reasons we do - big floppy hat to shade oneself in the sun, backpack full of yummy treats, camouflage fatigues so your enemies don't see you, and a safety tether so you don't get dragged out to sea. Pretty cool. 😊

[@greenredblue]

Oh no, now I feel bad. I assumed that clearing off the rubble sitting on top of an urchin was helping it. I didn't mean to steal its stuff...

[@Honorarificus]

sea police here, you're under arrest for stealing urchin hats

[@Nobddy]

Don’t worry, you just provided it with another opportunity to change its outfit

[@onii-chandaisuki5710]

'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'.

[@kissit012]

You just exposed it’s camouflage

[@andrewpaige1194]

Hahahahaha me too! It’s ugly, so I always take stuff off, but yeah, poor things:(

[@angieemm]

A sea urchin that stashes snacks in its spines! I loved sea urchins before but now I love them even more.

[@kanelovec4315]

I love the hats. Even a simple organism can use tools. Using objects for proposed shows they are smarter than we think. Maybe thats why they have large numbers and can be found in alot of environments.

[@evilsharkey8954]

It’s instinct, but it’s still pretty impressive for a creature with no brain at all.

[@SioxerNikita]

If we want to talk about a creature that uses tools, it has to be learned behavior for it to be smart.

[@Awesomeficationify]

Woah, slow down there friend. They are incapable of thought. Like others have mentioned, they don't have a brain. It's like your plant growing towards sunlight, doesn't rly think about it.

[@KCJbomberFTW]

Anything living as long as these becomes wise

[@Nobddy]

@@SioxerNikita really? Who do octopuses learn from?

[@kaitlynoddie9649]

I THOUGHT URCHINS ONLY WORE HATS IN STARDEW VALLEY

[@julia5459]

WAIT THEY DO?

[@Tenebrio_molitor1]

@@julia5459 Yeah, you can put hats on urchins if they're in an aquarium.

[@85jvia]

Apparently the devs did their research

[@Brabbs]

Gave a like just cause of the stardew valley mention 🤣

[@Gryphonzwing]

@@85jvia Dev one dev.

[@jkb2016]

They're both, bizarre and adorable! And, of course, well dressed.

[@AJVD2123]

One of my urchins currently has a thermometer, two algae clips, and a dozen or so snail shells on

[@sohopedeco]

It's bizarre to remember sea urchins are animals who actualy do things instead of a things that just stay still.

[@Beryllahawk]

Sea Floor Fashion Show: Urchin Edition And the image of a sea urchin with a cowboy hat on is going to stay with me all week I think - that is TOO cute

[@Nobddy]

Think I might make it the background on my phone

[@soogymoogi]

Oh my god the tiny 3d printed hat... 😂

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

I rarely approve of oddly frivolous behavior... but I commend their eccentricity lol.

[@chimpazoo1143]

@@TragoudistrosMPH Jolly god, well said Mon Seigneur.

[@3possumsinatrenchcoat]

local aquarium place has a variety for the urchins in the permanent display tank including a cowboy hat and Viking helmet (plus plenty of actual natural stuff in the tank obv - though at one point one guy decided the thermometer was his new outfit.)

[@soogymoogi]

@@3possumsinatrenchcoat I work in the fish section of a certain smaller chain pet store, thinking of printing safari hats for our urchins if my boss gives me the ok

[@22Chrome]

Because they’re very stylish creatures. ( Funny story real quick I was at a beach once and picked up my hat and a beached urchin was under my hat, my hat was right beside the current of the ocean )

[@hannah.b_765]

I learned a lot of things by watching this video, but by far the most important is that sea urchins are very, VERY cute.

[@juanjoyaborja.3054]

They’re like spiky little roombas, and unlike other echinoderms, they’re purely herbivorous, which makes them seem more pleasant but also happens to be a quite huge problem in some harbours

[@pufrmel]

@@juanjoyaborja.3054 They are not purely herbivores as they will eat animal matter on occasions but yes they are mostly herbivorous

[@juanjoyaborja.3054]

@@pufrmel I didn’t know that, I’d think that they were incapable of eating other animals

[@Roguefem76]

"Which of course is a thing people do" I feel attacked. 😆

[@tatuvarvemaa5314]

I want to know more fun facts about sea urchants. I thought that they were just some spiky ball that didn’t move or do anything but just sit there and exist with alot of spikes. But now I know they wear hats which is one adorable.

[@Nobddy]

Lmao same

[@littlesnowflakepunk855]

they can also walk around and hunt. their behavior/diet is actually kinda similar to certain kinds of starfish

[@cHAOs9]

They attack in swarms and will eat anything including starfish

[@1.4142]

I bet their favorite line is "I'll eat my hat"

[@rickseiden1]

If they cover themselves in shells and stones that are covered in algae that they eat, does that mean that they are farming algae?

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

If I cover myself in salad, does that mean I am farming salad?

[@skrimper]

It's possible, I mean there are those ants that farm fungus

[@justincraig398]

@@DasAntiNaziBroetchen if the salad grew on you, then yes. Algae stuck on a shell that is on an urchin would end up continuing to grow in that shell as the urchin lived its life. So it’s pretty similar to farming , a lot more similar than your comparison of dumping lettuce on your head.

[@curiousKuro16]

Maybe for some of the wild urchins at least. Maybe not for the 3D printed ones?

[@keithyinger3326]

@@DasAntiNaziBroetchen I would say no. The urchins aren't exactly covering themselves and algae, but with bits of shell and stone with algae growing on them. I think a better analogy would be wearing a pot of soil with veggies growing in it. Or maybe as my grandfather used to say.. it's so dirty behind your ears you could grow potatoes. Go take a bath! Lol He was also up farmer so this was after a day out in the shop and field with him. Those are good memories :)

[@mojojoji5493]

Zefrank1 “the see spike likes to wear fashionable hats on top of his poky poky tips”

[@Ultimate_Hater75]

Now imagine what weird shenanigans ancient extinct creatures do that we can't guess from just fossils.

[@tuckergregory]

I have a new appreciation for the spiky water life balls

[@waffles3629]

My favorite part is how the developer of Stardew Valley put this in. I totally don't save up 333 Omni geodes for a magic cowboy hat for a sea urchin. Definitely not. Hehehe

[@oracleofdelphi4533]

I'm sure wildlife ask many more questions as to why humans do anything.

[@evilsharkey8954]

I think a lot of wildlife has just written us off as weird things to be avoided except when we have food.

[@katetoolate234]

So is this why in Stardew Valley you can put a hat on a sea urchin when it's in a fish tank! 😄 Would be so cool if that secret special features had a reason for being!

[@AstralArbourSys]

it seems concernedape did his research

[@craigme2583]

Love urchins, I had many in my tank. Great fun creatures always holding something over them, lots of little arms. Very sweet to have in any marine tank. You don't notice their cute behaviour in rock pools or snorkling. They hide too well. Pull them very slowly off their rock, andcthey are easy to collect. They are hardy and clean the tank, wiggle around, cope with wide temperature range. Lovely. Very common.

[@AstralArbourSys]

Don't steal them from outside though! That's not very nice!

[@craigme2583]

@@AstralArbourSys no. But fishermen take a lot for bait, very common

[@AstralArbourSys]

@@craigme2583 ah i see

[@jiminboo]

You keep saying words like “pick up” and “put on”… but how… HOW?!?! Do sea urchins hide arms somewhere???

[@lithobreak3812]

Yes, just like sea stars and brittle stars sea urcheons have thousands of little tentacles across their surface

[@lithobreak3812]

I recommend you watch zefrank's recent video on the sea star family

[@jiminboo]

@@lithobreak3812 thanks!!!!!

[@tomfiddzy1827]

Fascinating video. I just have one question, how do they pick up and hold the items?

[@kf10147]

Their spiky bits are actually tube feet! The ends are little suction cups that can grab hats and food and rocks and stuff! I recommend deep look's sand dollar video to learn more seriously or zefrank's true facts sea star video for a humorous learning experience.

[@peterjf7723]

Between their spines they have extendable tube feet, each with a suction cup on the end.

[@tomfiddzy1827]

@@kf10147 Thank you :)

[@tomfiddzy1827]

@@peterjf7723 Thanks :)

[@candycemonroe7345]

Disney 3d printed Mickey ear hats for their urchins at Epcot and it was so cute.

[@Keigo_88]

They look pretty fresh with hats

[@pencilpauli9442]

Q: Why do sea urchins wear clothes? A: Because they don't want to be naked like nudibranchs.

[@curiousKuro16]

Borrowing this joke for the future, thank you!

[@anyascelticcreations]

I never knew they could even move, let alone dress themselves. Or possibly think about what to wear or why.

[@Ly_7838]

Awww how cute still spiky asf and dangerous as hell though

[@vincentlee7359]

Great to use to throw at people

[@Ly_7838]

@@vincentlee7359 gonna have to agree with that sadly

[@apdroidgeek1737]

most of these urchins have blunt spikes they evolve to hide from predators instead of using their spikes to protect themselves, few urchins I can name of are actually dangerous one being the flower urchin and the long spiny urchin which doesn't hide from predators but instead uses their powerful venom to protect themselves. Most of these urchins even the one that have blunt spikes are venomous but its incredibly hard to get stabbed by one unless you really try to, and their venom is very mild compared to the two urchins ive mentioned

[@Ly_7838]

@@apdroidgeek1737 oh cool

[@robby7499]

Because they're out for a stroll.

[@carinajolierouge]

Lil hat for sunbathing

[@DoctaOsiris]

I've only seen Urchins once in my life when I went scuba diving in Spain and I don't remember seeing any of them covered with anything. 🤷 I'm from the UK and I don't think we have any at all, I certainly don't know anyone who's ever seen them up close like I have.

[@apdroidgeek1737]

I've seen one, now you know someone that did.

[@apdroidgeek1737]

not all sea urchins does this, tuxedo urchins and pincushion urchins does this the most they are abundant in aquarium pet trades.

[@doodskie999]

I live in the tropics i asia, I always wonder why there are random bits of shells I see on sea urchins

[@evilsharkey8954]

Only short spined urchins wear stuff. There are definitely urchins in the UK, but they’re probably hanging out in water you don’t swim in. If you scuba dive around the coasts, you may find some tucked into gaps in rocks.

[@JackFrawley101]

Fairly common in the coastal areas of Vic Australia, I have seen quite a few camoflauged in this way, bits of stone and kelp

[@geoffreymartin6363]

KEE-Nah is how one pronounces kina not kin-ah. Māori vowel sounds. Good episode though

[@mysmirandam.6618]

Yup

[@jordynozymandias374]

they do it because it's cool and rad don't question their swag

[@davidbryden7904]

Cool adaption to carry your garden on your back! 😎✌️

[@paintballercali]

I had no idea they could move stuff.

[@aaronfitz2892]

its honestly really cool mines carrys around a piece of gsp "green star polyp" and it with the coral open is so cool

[@callummy3250]

I'm almost offended that Beebo and Boba weren't featured in this piece.

[@jasepoag8930]

I wish they wouldn't! Mine keeps picking up my corals and moving them around.

[@halowaffle25]

Even the simplest animals are smarter than we give them credit for. I wonder just how far down the food chain you'd have to go to find truly unintelligent life?

[@apdroidgeek1737]

plants.

[@Raverzdreams]

@@apdroidgeek1737 plants are intelligent and communicate with each other and many even sleep. Now don't even get started on how smart fungi is

[@GodofMasks]

I don't know. I work with some people that make me wonder.

[@arieldanielle23]

Depends on the yardstick you're using. If survival tactics count as intelligence you're setting the bar pretty low. Surviving is an instinct, a biological imperative, arguably little conscious thought goes into it.

[@sailorssea]

I have green and red urchins in my aquarium. The green urchins pack everything around red not so much. All the live in my aquarium are bycatch of our shellfish farm.

[@ajhuredreams]

Sea urchins with jaunty little hats is my favorite thing on the internet this week!

[@ivoryowl]

I'm sorry, but that urchin with a cowboy hat looks adorable! :3

[@NeonVisual]

Maybe they just like to feel pretty once in a while okay? /s

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Sea anemone eat sea urchins? This was fascinating... So much new knowledge haha

[@evilsharkey8954]

That’s pretty impressive considering how slowly anemones move. Apparently, that anemone can also catch and eat fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and various mollusks.

[@fourleafclover2064]

Petition to give all urchins a lil hat

[@TheRealSkeletor]

That moment when one of your favorite science educators mispronounces "anemones" as "an enemies".

[@Tfin]

The anemone is not "an enemy." Don't call it that. It just wants to get by like anyone else.

[@AtomicEy]

title gave me Llamas with Hats memories

[@screamz3r089]

And here I thought its just they cant remove them...(those small spiked ones that live near rocks usual colors are yellow black)...

[@Ilix42]

My pre-watch guess is that they play TF2. Edit: They all do it for different reasons, so some of them could be TF2 players.

[@curiousKuro16]

With their many tube feet I imagine they could even be good!

[@sophroniel]

Eyyyy kina!!! They're so good with a bit of butter. Kai moana at its best 😉🥰

[@longlakeshore]

Street urchins on the other hand cover themselves with cuteness. Scientists have yet to work out why.

[@fairybeliever4479]

Deep down, sea urchins are fashionistas.

[@TheCalzone27]

Now I have to get a sea urchin tattoo with a cowboy hat Lmaoo

[@Zmiana_Pogody]

I love this episode!

[@JermaineDaniels-xh8wd]

When is this urchin at its best to harvest in the season ❤

[@djSpinege]

was hoping for a time laps of them picking up stuff.

[@kimbratton9620]

Wow I never knew this before!

[@edwarddoernberg3428]

ok, that covers why how do they get things onto themselves, no arms no hands, how dose an urchin get a hat onto its "head"

[@jb888888888]

It's so the urchin can take it off and hod it upside down when begging.

[@MissPersephoneParker]

The 3D printed hats made me so happy lol

[@exMuteKid]

I wanna make a mini Sunhat for a sea urchin

[@mariakasstan]

How do they manipulate objects?

[@freya002YT]

Very cool

[@fattywithafirearm]

I have 2 tuxedo urchins in my tank that put stuff on themselves all the time.

[@isaiahh5932]

I wear hats as well on my second head.

[@Kayclau]

Real science right here!

[@deannarachelbobiwsky2366]

I'm reminded of The Little Trashmaid!

[@deadscenedotcom]

How do urchins sense red vs clear?

[@AngryKittens]

To hide their bald spots. Hee-haw. Hee-haw.

[@NajwaLaylah]

I'd like to collect sea urchins for my compost heap.

[@leko_top4z600]

It’s almost like how humans wear hats for multiple reasons.

[@salomemimiux5316]

So stylish! :V

[@wateringplamts2382]

they just wanna look fancy

[@stopgont7360]

My question is how do they out the "hats" on?

[@General12th]

Hi Stefan!

[@cHAOs9]

These sea urchins are smarter than some people i know

[@firstjayjay]

1:00 how the heck do they know which givs better uv protection...?

[@koolkestrel9512]

Lil spiky ball

[@Tracy-xe9zu]

Look up 'sea urchins wearing tiny hats' for free serotonin. You're welcome.

[@elsomnoliento]

1:53 What are sea anenomies? 🤔🤔

[@razi_man]

Kinda funny seeing a sea urchin with a cowboy hat, to be honest.

[@gothboschincarnate3931]

The greater question is....how do they perceive ultra-violet.

[@dinostorion]

wow. i need to learn more about urchin anatomy

[@curiousKuro16]

Zefrank recently did a video about sea stars and their relatives [including sea urchins]. There's also more serious resources like the Monterey Bay Aquarium

[@IsAMank]

Someone's growing grandpa in that thing

[@98erics]

This is a popular misconception. They wear hats to show which gang they're in.

[@SheepHairOG]

How do they put them on, I thought they were just balls of spikes

[@jasonwebb1882]

To be honest, I didn't know sea urchins did any of this. I knew that they are alive, but so are tress. Lol. How do they pick them up and how do they see? Do they have eyes or just sensors on all those spikes? Crazy, I learned something for sure and it's left me with more questions then answers. Lol. Gotta love youtube and Google.

[@DJFracus]

Urchins can pick up stuff with their tube feet. It's these things that come out from the middle that are like tentacles (not the spines), or water tubes with suction cups at the end. It's the same thing that sea stars move with. Also, the tube feet that are all over their bodies have light-receptive cells in them, so they can see. They can't see well at all, but they can see a bit. Technically they are seeing without eyes, since they have no specific organs dedicated to sight.

[@MrBobbl]

I don't see the sources of the mentioned studies, only image credits. I feel like for a science channel, there should be actual sources?

[@Joso997]

It is so others can know where their head is.

[@janetf23]

So, sea urchins are much more than just delicious?! 👍

[@CraftyZanTub]

They're fond of cookies too!

[@y0nd3r]

Were sea urchins the inspiration for tribbles?

[@bevinboulder5039]

Ok. I just checked sea urchins out on Wikipedia and I can see no mechanism whereby they could put objects on top of their bodies, so how do they do it? I'm all ears.

[@RarelyAChump]

But how do they know which squares were red?!😱

[@mojojoji5493]

Short answer? Because it’s sunny

[@mojojoji5493]

Am I high short answer?

[@joyglocker8318]

How do they get all that stuff on their top? I mean they don't have hands ....so??????

[@nathancook6221]

In the great wise words of lady ga ga Cus baby they where born this way !