Gracilechinus is a genus of sea urchins in the family Echinidae.
Description and characteristics The species in this genus are regular sea urchins, with a rounded test, bearing the anus at the top and the mouth at the bottom. They are extremely similar to species in the genus Echinus, but are differentiated by a primary tubercle on every interambulacral plate.
Most species in this genus are abyssal, and live in the North Atlantic or close cold seas.
Species Species in this genus include:Andreas Kroh (2015), Gracilechinus in Kroh, A. & Mooi, R. (2015), World Echinoidea Database. Image Scientific name Distribution Gracilechinus acutus (Lamarck, 1816) Europe (Mediterranean and Atlantic) Gracilechinus affinis (Mortensen, 1903) center Atlantic Gracilechinus alexandri (Döderlein & Koren, 1883) Northern Atlantic Gracilechinus atlanticus (Mortensen, 1903) Atlantic Gracilechinus elegans (Düben & Koren, 1844) North-east Atlantic Gracilechinus gracilis (Agassiz, 1869) Caribbean Gracilechinus lucidus (Döderlein, 1885) North-west Pacific Gracilechinus stenoporus (Mortensen, 1942) South Africa
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