| Toxopneustes elegans | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Superorder: | |
| Order: | |
| Infraorder: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | T. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Toxopneustes elegans Döderlein, 1885 | |
 | |
Toxopneustes elegans is a species of sea urchin endemic to Japan. Like the closely related flower urchin, they are venomous.
Toxopneustes elegans is one of the four species in the genus Toxopneustes . It was first described by the German zoologist Ludwig Heinrich Philipp Döderlein in 1885. [1] The generic name Toxopneustes literally means "poison breath", derived from Greek τοξικόν [φάρμακον] (toksikón [phármakon], "arrow [poison]") and πνευστος (pneustos, "breath"). The specific name elegans means "elegant" in Latin.
It has no English common name, but it is known as kurosuji-rappa-uni (クロスジラッパウニ) in Japanese (literally "black streaked flower urchin"). [2]
Toxopneustes elegans resemble the more common flower urchins, but they are smaller, reaching a maximum diameter of only 10 cm (4 in). They also have smaller pedicellariae, though they are still characteristically flower-like in appearance. The most distinctive feature of the species, however, are the prominent black bands just below the tip of each of the short spines. [3]
Toxopneustes elegans is endemic to Japan. [4] They can be found from Sagami Bay in Honshu to the waters around the Amami Islands and Okinawa. They inhabit coral reefs, coral rubble, rocks, sand, and seagrass beds at depths of 2 to 20 m (7 to 66 ft) from the water's surface. [3] [4]
Like other members of the genus, Toxopneustes elegans is venomous. The flower-like pedicellariae can deliver a painful sting if touched. [5]
Sea urchins are spiny, globular echinoderms in the class Echinoidea. About 950 species of sea urchin live on the seabed of every ocean and inhabit every depth zone from the intertidal seashore down to 5,000 meters. The spherical, hard shells (tests) of sea urchins are round and spiny, ranging in diameter from 3 to 10 cm. Sea urchins move slowly, crawling with tube feet, and also propel themselves with their spines. Although algae are the primary diet, sea urchins also eat slow-moving (sessile) animals. Predators that eat sea urchins include a wide variety of fish, starfish, crabs, marine mammals. Sea urchins are also used as food especially in Japan.
A pedicellaria is a small wrench- or claw-shaped appendage with movable jaws, called valves, commonly found on echinoderms, particularly in sea stars and sea urchins. Each pedicellaria is an effector organ with its own set of muscles, neuropils, and sensory receptors and is therefore capable of reflex responses to the environment. Pedicellariae are poorly understood but in some taxa, they are thought to keep the body surface clear of algae, encrusting organisms, and other debris in conjunction with the ciliated epidermis present in all echinoderms.
Diadema setosum is a species of long-spined sea urchin belonging to the family Diadematidae. It is a typical sea urchin, with extremely long, hollow spines that are mildly venomous. D. setosum differs from other Diadema with five, characteristic white dots that can be found on its body. The species can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from Australia and Africa to Japan and the Red Sea. Despite being capable of causing painful stings when stepped upon, the urchin is only slightly venomous and does not pose a serious threat to humans.
Echinus esculentus, the European edible sea urchin or common sea urchin, is a species of marine invertebrate in the Echinidae family. It is found in coastal areas of western Europe down to a depth of 1,200 m (3,900 ft). It is considered "Near threatened" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Astropyga radiata, the red urchin, fire urchin, false fire urchin or blue-spotted urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the family Diadematidae. It is a large species with long spines and is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It was first described in 1778 by the German naturalist Nathaniel Gottfried Leske.
Coelopleurus is an extant genus of echinoids with fossil records dating back to the Eocene, with remains found in Europe and North America.
Toxopneustes pileolus, commonly known as the flower urchin, is a widespread and commonly encountered species of sea urchin from the Indo-West Pacific. It is considered highly dangerous, as it is capable of delivering extremely painful and medically significant stings when touched. It inhabits coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky or sandy environments at depths of up to 90 m (295 ft). It feeds on algae, bryozoans, and organic detritus.
Lytechinus williamsi, the jewel urchin, is a sea urchin in the family Toxopneustidae. It occurs on shallow reefs off the coasts of Panama, Belize, the Florida Keys and Jamaica.
Toxopneustes is a genus of sea urchins from the tropical Indo-Pacific. It contains four species. They are known to possess medically significant venom to humans on their pedicellariae. They are sometimes collectively known as flower urchins, after the most widespread and most commonly encountered species in the genus, the flower urchin. Species included in the genus are the following:
The Echinothuriidae are a family of sea urchins in the order Echinothurioida. Due to their soft skeletons, most are called "leather urchins", but species in the genus Asthenosoma are also known as "fire urchins" due to their bright colors and painful, venomous sting.
Flower urchins may refer to:
Toxopneustes roseus is a species of sea urchin from the East Pacific. It is sometimes known as the rose flower urchin or the pink flower urchin. Like the related flower urchin, they are venomous.
Toxopneustes maculatus is a rare species of sea urchin found in the Indo-West Pacific.
Syndesmis longicanalis is a species of marine flatworms endemic to the waters off Kenya. They are commensal symbionts of sea urchins.
Athanas areteformis is a species of small alpheid shrimp from the Indo-West Pacific.
Gracilechinus is a genus of sea urchins in the family Echinidae.
Araeosoma is a genus of deep-sea sea urchins in the family Echinothuriidae.
Dermechinus is a genus of sea urchin in the family Echinidae found in deep water in the southern Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is monotypic, with Dermechinus horridus, sometimes called the cactus urchin, being the only species.
Clypeaster japonicus, the Japanese sea biscuit, is a species of sea urchin in the Family Clypeasteridae. This species was first scientifically described in 1885 by the German zoologist Ludwig Heinrich Philipp Döderlein.