Sea Urchins Age Phenomenally Well

Found along the west coast of North America, red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) call the ocean bottoms home. There, these spiky creatures feed on seaweed and kelp, and are often found in groups. While they may face predation from sea stars and crabs, the urchins, when left to their own devices, age phenomenally well. In fact, some researchers even report their lifespans as being over 100 years long.

Publishing in Aging Cell, researchers from the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences reported their findings on aging in three sea urchin species, including red sea urchins.

Read more at: R&DMagazine.com