Abstract
The distribution of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius, with successive developmental processes of its life cycle was observed by SCUBA diving at the rocky shore of Ikantai, southern Hokkaido, from August 1966 until November 1968. This shore, supporting the echinoid population, consisted of an extensive flat rock, a boulder field, an eelgrass area, and a sandy area, and was classified into five major habitats according to the nature of the bottom. The boulder field supported more than 90% of the sea urchin population, and this zone was a major habitat for the sea urchin. The flat rock area and the eelgrass one were nearly valueless areas as habitat for the sea urchin. Almost all individuals belonging to larval and young urchins were most dense at the field of small boulders. The 2-year old urchins were also more abundant in this boulder field than in the others, but they dispersed gradually toward the field with large boulders from late spring to late fall. The field with large boulders was appraised as a major habitat for the adult urchins older than 3 years old. Some members of the adult urchins, during the cold months, extended their sphere over the field covered with small boulders. However, during the rest of the year, they were clumped within the large boulder field.
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