AnAge entry for Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Classification (HAGRID: 04605)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Echinodermata
        Class: Echinoidea
            Order: Echinoida
                Family: Strongylocentrotidae
                    Genus: Strongylocentrotus
Species: Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Common name: Purple sea urchin

Maximum longevity: 50 years
Source: ref. 39
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Questionable
Observations: Even though the purple sea urchin has been an important model for biomedical research, its ageing process has not been studied in detail. Based on growth rates, it has been estimated that these animals can live over 50 years [0039]. One study demonstrated low levels of cell proliferation and apoptosis within the internal tissues, in keeping with their low metabolic rates [1225]. Since evidence suggests that the red sea urchin (/Strongylocentrotus franciscanus/) is extremely long-lived with no detectable signs of ageing, the purple sea urchin may also be extremely long-lived and its maximum longevity may be considerably underestimated.

No information on metabolism is available.

[1225] Bodnar and Coffman (2016), Maintenance of somatic tissue regeneration with age in short- and long-lived species of sea urchins (PubMed)
[1224] Bodnar (2015), Cellular and molecular mechanisms of negligible senescence: insight from the sea urchin (PubMed)
[0863] Loram and Bodnar (2012), Age-related changes in gene expression in tissues of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (PubMed)
[0039] Ebert (1967), Negative growth and longevity in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Stimpson)