 Examination of the gut contents of this species also showed small shells and the skeletons of hydroids.The eggs are small, which implies this species has echinopluteus larvae which are planktonic.A deepwater video survey of the seabed over the Cape Fear coral mound off North Carolina found the sea urchins "E. tylodes" and the rather similar "Echinus gracilis" associated with squat lobsters ("Eumunida picta") and spider crabs ("Rochinia crassa").