Urchin

Urchins are recurring underwater enemies in the . They are based on real-world , and first appear in Super Mario World.
==Profile==
An Urchin's primary attack is following their opponent and attacking them with its spikes. They are mostly found underwater. They are slow, blue (sometimes purple), prickly echinoderms that move between tunnels in the underwater. 
==In ==
===Super Mario World===
Urchins are first seen in Super Mario World. In this game, they are commonly found in underwater coves and tunnels such as those in Forest of Illusion 2. Some Urchins circle around block platforms while others are idle. They are mostly invincible, immune to the effects of a Fire Flower and what's more is Yoshi can't eat them, but he can step on them without taking damage. The plumbers must time their movements carefully as to avoid an Urchin's spikes. An Urchin can be defeated from either throwing a Grab Block at it or by running into it while under the effects of a Starman.
In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, there is an exploit in which Luigi can defeat an Urchin by having Yoshi swallow a Blurp and spit it at the Urchin.
===Super Princess Peach===
Urchins appear again in Super Princess Peach. In this game, they are found only in Subrella sections such as those in Wavy Beach and Gleam Glacier. Urchins can either move up and down or left and right. There is not a way to defeat them at all in the game and this is the only game where an Urchin cannot be defeated so as a result, Urchins can be earned in the Glossary just by simply encountering them.
===Super Mario Galaxy===
Urchins made an appearance in Super Mario Galaxy instead of swimming, they tend to appear on the ocean floor (and sometimes on land near water). Urchins are seen lingering on the ocean floors but as soon as Mario/Luigi approaches, they flick out their spikes and start rolling towards him. Urchins can only be defeated by tossing a Shell at them or with the effects of a Fire Flower or a Rainbow Star. A killed Urchin will produce six Star Bits upon defeat. Urchins can be found in a number of Galaxies such as the Beach Bowl Galaxy, Buoy Base Galaxy, Drip Drop Galaxy, Freezeflame Galaxy, Bigmouth Galaxy, Sea Slide Galaxy, and the Deep Dark Galaxy. 
A Red sub-species of Urchins called Ground Urchins can be found in fire areas or other industrial areas such as the Freezeflame Galaxy and the Deep Dark Galaxy. The only way to defeat them is to push them to the lava or with the effects of a Fire Flower, they also appear to be more furry than a regular Urchin. They behave like the ones underwater.
===New Super Mario Bros. Wii===
Urchins return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, In this game, unlike Super Mario World, they can be defeated by with the effects of a Fire Flower, or frozen with the effects of an Ice Flower or Penguin Suit, allowing the player to reach certain Star Coins, when frozen, the frozen Urchin will slowly rise to the surface and then break itself free falling asleep upon breaking out and descending to the sea floor, if the sleeping Urchin falls and lands on a Current-blowing Pipe, the currents will be blocked allowing the heroes to explore the area the currents were blocking. Urchins are commonly found in underwater levels such as World 1-4 and various levels of World 4 Larger versions called Mega Urchins also appear in this game making their debut; they can only be defeated with the effects of a Starman.
===Super Mario Galaxy 2===
Urchins make a return in Super Mario Galaxy 2 retaining their behavior from the previous game, they once again rest along the ocean floors and aggressively roll at Mario/Luigi upon sight. Urchins can be defeated with Shell attacks or the effects of a Fire Flower, Rock Mushroom, or Rainbow Star. Urchins once again can be found in several Galaxies which include the Cosmic Cove Galaxy, Starshine Beach Galaxy, and the Slimy Spring Galaxy. The Ground Urchins also return in this game being primarily found in Galaxies such as the Battle Belt Galaxy.
===New Super Mario Bros. 2===
Urchins return in New Super Mario Bros. 2 retaining their behavior from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They can commonly be found in various levels of World 3 and various underwater levels found throughout the game, World 3-A contains Urchins all over the walls and ceilings found throughout the level and World Mushroom-2 also contains Urchins which bounce along the floor like bouncy balls. The game also introduces a smaller variety of Urchin called the Mini Urchin. Both varieties of Urchin obviously have spikes making them dangerous to touch however they can be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Mega Mushroom, Gold Flower, Starman, or an Invincibility Leaf.
===New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe===
Urchins also appear in New Super Mario Bros. U as well as New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. In these games, they are seen in various levels of Sparkling Waters as well as other underwater levels such as Swim for Your Life! and Star Coin Deep Dive. In these games, the behave as they did in previous games (either moving around or remaining in place), Urchins can once again be defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower or Starman and can be temporarily frozen with the effects of an Ice Flower or Penguin Suit only for them to break free and then fall asleep descending to the ocean floor as before. Sometimes, Urchins can be seen blocking passages and must be cleared away in order to progress. In certain levels, Urchins can be lifted up with the Waterspouts and whilst being lifted, they possess menacing expressions (similar to that of the Spiny Cheep-Cheep). The Mega Urchin also returns in these games.
==In Yoshi Touch & Go==
In the beta stages of Yoshi Touch & Go, Urchins were planned to appear as enemies in the game but in the game's final build, they were scrapped and replaced with Briers which are similar as they too are spiked creatures.
==In ==
===Super Paper Mario===
While Urchins don't appear in Super Paper Mario, there is one Sammer Guy called Urchin Lung, whose name references to the enemy, Urchin.
===Paper Mario: Color Splash===
Normal Urchins don't appear in Paper Mario: Color Splash however the Mega Urchin does. One Mega Urchin appears during the Snifit or Whiffit Game Show as a hazard. If Mario answers too many wrong questions, the Mega Urchin will burst the Bubble he and Huey are in killing them both.
==In ==
===Mario Party 9===
Urchins make their debut in the Mario Party series in Mario Party 9. In this game, they can be found in several minigames such as the luck-based minigame Pier Pressure. During the minigame, players select from a multitude of fishing rods and have a chance of reeling in either a Cheep Cheep or an Urchin, reeling an Urchin will cause the Urchin to knock the player into the water eliminating him/her immediately, whoever is the last player remaining is the winner. 1, 2, or 3 of the rods (depending on how many players there are playing) have a chance of reeling an Urchin. Urchins are also seen during the boss battle with Blooper in the minigame Blooper Barrage, during the boss, Blooper will toss Urchins at the players and whoever the Urchin is closing in on will be highlighted next to the incoming Urchin. The targeted player must use his/her cannon to hit the Urchin which makes it change it's target to another player. If the Urchin is close by upon being hit, it will fall back into the water. Players hit by the Urchins lose points. Lastly, Urchins are also seen during the Bowser's Block Battle boss minigame against Bowser. When Bowser reaches his enraged state, he will toss a Boss Dice Block which can temporarily summon one of the bosses from one of the previous boards, one of these is Blooper who once again attacks by tossing Urchins at the players every which way, players hit by the Urchins once again lose points.
===Mario Party 10===
Urchins are seen again in Mario Party 10. In this game, they appear in several minigames such as Fruit of the Doom. In this minigame, players are on a waterfall and need to collect as many fruits as possible whilst avoiding the Urchins and the Big Urchins which cause players to lose points. Urchins are also seen in the minigame Rapid River Race where they act as obstacles that players must dodge whilst racing across the pool. Running into an Urchin will cause the player hit to lose all of his/her speed giving the competition a tremendous advantage. Urchins also appear in Meanie Match as one of the selectable enemies.
===Mario Party: Star Rush===
Urchins appear again in Mario Party: Star Rush in the minigame Bumper Bugs as obstacles that must be avoided while going for the flags. Big Urchins are also seen in the minigame Cheep Cheep Reach as obstacles that must be avoided while reaching out to grab the Cheep Cheeps, grabbing a Big Urchin will briefly stun you so be careful.
===Mario Party: The Top 100===
Urchins reappear in Mario Party: The Top 100 in the returning minigame from Mario Party 9 Pier Pressure. They are once again below the water and players must use their rods hopefully reel in Cheep Cheeps, just as before, reeling in an Urchin will eliminate a player from the game and the last player remaining is the winner.
===Super Mario Party===
Urchins appear again in Super Mario Party as one of the selectable choices in the minigame Absent Minded.
===Mario Party Superstars===
Urchins also appear in Mario Party Superstars where they can be seen around Yoshi's Tropical Island however they are mainly background characters and don't do much about from watch the game play out. During the last five turns, an Urchin may be selected to make a winner prediction. Urchins are also seen in the returning minigame (from Mario Party 10) Rapid River Race. Urchins once again reprise their role as the primary obstacles in the minigame and slow down any racers who collide into them whist racing down the pool.
==In ==
===Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam===
Urchins make their Mario & Luigi series debut in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, in this game, they can be found in Twinsy Tropics alongside Cheep Cheeps. Like the Spiky Parabuzzies in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, due to the fact that they are spiked and floating enemies, Urchins cannot be jumped on or hammered. They can only be attacked via Bros. Attacks or Trio Attacks so it is recommended to come stocked up with Syrup Jars when going up against Urchins. Anyway, if the Urchin is damaged but not defeated, it will eventually blow up, causing major damage to the trio, along with any allied enemies that are fighting alongside them, this attack can only be nullified by blocking (which only reduces the damage) so always be sure to take them out whenever you can. Also, if the Urchins are left alive after it's comrades are defeated, they will flee and provide no experience. Urchins have rather how HP but their defense is extremely high meaning attacks will do small damage to them.
===Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey=== 
Urchins reappear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, as enemies in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey side story. Due to their floating nature, they are classed as flying enemies and can be found in various levels of Plack Beach alongside Cheep-Cheeps (which are also flying creatures) and Drillbit Crabs. They differ from other enemies as they don't immediately show up with other enemies instead, they hop out of the water and into the battle, due to them being aquatic creatures who cannot survive on mainland, Urchins (as well as Cheep-Cheeps) cannot be recruited as allies.
==Gallery==
Urchin SMW sprite.png|Super Mario World sprite
Urchin SPP sprite.png|Super Princess Peach sprite
Big Urchin.jpg|An Urchin next to a Big Urchin in Mario Party 10.
Urchin Solo.png|A Solo Urchin as seen in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
==Trivia==
*Hacking into Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars reveals that game was initially planned to feature what would appear to be a tiny Urchin, likely as some kind of item.
*Urchins are one of few Mario enemies to share their name with a real-life creature.
*New Super Mario Bros. is so far the only game of the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series where Urchins do not appear.
de:Igluck
fr:Oursin
es:Erincho
it:Ricciospino
fi:Urchin
nl:Urchin
da:Urchin
no:Urchin
ja:ウニラ
pl:Urchin
Category:Fish
Category:Underwater creatures
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Category:Enemies in New Super Luigi U
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. 2
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. U
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Category:Enemies in Super Mario Galaxy 2
Category:Enemies in Super Mario Galaxy
Category:Enemies in Super Mario World
Category:Enemies in Super Princess Peach