spiny

“When people touch them, it’s kind of cool because their bellies are soft and smooth. Their backs are sharp and spiny. It’s kind of analogous to sharkskin.”

On California’s North Coast, where other urchin nemeses — like otters, spiny lobsters and sheephead — are lacking, 96% of the region’s kelp forests vanished in the decade following the sea star collapse.

Two Southern California men were fined in excess of $60,000 each and had their fishing licenses permanently revoked for poaching abalone and spiny lobsters off the coast of Catalina Island.

Scientists discovered a new species of spiny mouse - named after the especially stiff guard hairs found on their coats, which function similar to the spines of a hedgehog.

“Then make sure to cool it immediately to prevent holdover temperature from overcooking the spiny little beast!”