Video: Army of Sea Urchins Attacks Giant Kelp Forest

Posted on May 6, 2012

An army of sea urchins takes down a giant kelp forest off the California coast in this video, which contains amazing timelapse footage from the BBC natural history documentary Planet Earth. The purple sea urchins use their sharp teeth to cut down the 3-story tall giant kelp at the holdfast, a root-like growth that anchors the kelp to the rocks. Each sea urchin has five teeth, which are self-sharpening, that help it consume the kelp holdfasts. After the sea urchins attack the remains of the fallen kelp forest, known as urchin barrens, cover the sea bed. This "barren" region is actually teeming with life, including giant sunflower starfish. Take a look:

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