Strongylocentrotus purpuratus(Purple Sea Urchin)
Sea urchins are small, spiny, globular animals, archaically sometimes called sea hedgehogs. Their cardiovascular or circulatory consists of both a water vascular system(Does not contain blood) and a hemal system(contains blood). The main circulatory fluid is contained in the general body cavity, or coelom. This fluid contains "phagocytic coelomocytes," which move through the vascular and hemal systems. The coelomocytes are an extremely important part of blood clotting. Through these two systems, sea urchins are able to obtain needed oxygen and nutrients to survive. |