Toxopneustes roseus

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Toxopneustes roseus
Toxopneustes roseus.jpg
Male Toxopneustes roseus from the Gulf of California releasing milt (see video here). The object on top of the animal is a piece of coral rubble.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Echinoidea
Superorder:
Echinacea
Order:
Camarodonta
Infraorder:
Temnopleuridea
Family:
Toxopneustidae
Genus:
Toxopneustes
Species:
T. roseus
Binomial name
Toxopneustes roseus
(A. Agassiz, 1863)
Toxopneustes roseus range.jpg
  Estimated range
Synonyms [1]
  • Boletia picta
    Verrill, 1871
  • Boletia roseus
    A. Agassiz, 1863
  • Lytechinus roseus
    (A. Agassiz, 1863)

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Toxopneustes roseus is one of the four species in the genus Toxopneustes . It was first described by the American zoologist Alexander Emanuel Agassiz in 1863 as Boletia roseus. [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 roseus means "rosy" in Latin.

Though it does not have a widely used common name, it is sometimes known as the "rose flower urchin" or the "pink flower urchin". [2] More commonly, it is simply called a "flower urchin", though that name strictly applies only to the related Indo-West Pacific species, Toxopneustes pileolus .

Description

Toxopneustes roseus is similar in appearance to the more widespread flower urchin, Toxopneustes pileolus. It can be distinguished by having a rigid "shell" (test) that is a solid pink, red, or purple in color, in contrast to the variegated coloration of the test of Toxopneustes pileolus. [3] [4] Like other members of the genus, its most conspicuous feature are its numerous pedicellariae (stalked grasping appendages) which gives it the appearance of being a cluster of flowers. [5]

Distribution

Toxopneustes roseus is the only member of the genus found in the East Pacific. It can be found from Peru, up along the coast of Central America (including the Gulf of California), and as far north as California. They can also be found in the waters around the Galapagos Islands. [1] [6] [7]

They are common in coral reefs, rhodolith beds, and rocky environments, [6] at depths of 2 to 50 m (7 to 164 ft). [7] [8] They can also be found in sand and mud substrates. [5]

Ecology

Toxopneustes roseus feeds almost exclusively on rhodoliths, a coralline algae. They are highly mobile. They move and feed throughout the day and night, though they seem to be more active at night. [6]

Toxopneustes roseus are among the numerous species of sea urchins known as "collector urchins", so named because they frequently cover the upper surfaces of their bodies with debris from their surroundings. This behavior is usually referred to as "covering" or "heaping". [9] [10] A 1998 study has postulated that the debris collected by the sea urchins may serve as ballast, preventing them from being swept away by wave surges when feeding [6]

Venom

Like other members of the genus, Toxopneustes roseus is venomous. The flower-like pedicellariae can deliver a painful sting if touched. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedicellaria</span> Small wrench- or claw-shaped appendage found on echinoderms

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.

<i>Toxopneustes pileolus</i> Species of sea urchin

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxopneustidae</span> Family of echinoderms

Toxopneustidae is a family of globular sea urchins in the class Echinoidea.

<i>Aceste ovata</i> Species of sea urchin

Aceste ovata is a species of sea urchin of the family Schizasteridae. Their armour is covered with spines. It came from the genus Aceste and lives in the sea. Aceste ovata was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz & Hubert Lyman Clark.

Aporocidaris fragilis is a species of sea urchin of the family Ctenocidaridae. It is well-armoured with spines. It is placed in the genus Aporocidaris and lives in the sea. Aporocidaris fragilis was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz & Hubert Lyman Clark.

Araeosoma eurypatum is a species of sea urchin of the family Echinothuriidae. Their armour is covered with spines. It is placed in the genus Araeosoma and lives in the sea. Araeosoma eurypatum was first scientifically described in 1909 by Alexander Agassiz and Hubert Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Araeosoma leptaleum</span> Species of sea urchin

Araeosoma leptaleum is a species of sea urchin of the family Echinothuriidae. Their armour is covered with spines. It is placed in the genus Araeosoma and lives in the sea. Araeosoma leptaleum was first scientifically described in 1909 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz & Hubert Lyman Clark.

<i>Toxopneustes</i> Genus of sea urchins

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:

Argopatagus planus is a species of sea urchin of the family Macropneustidae. Their armour is covered with spines. It is placed in the genus Argopatagus and lives in the sea. Argopatagus planus was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz and Hubert Lyman Clark, American scientists.

Caenopedina pulchella is a species of sea urchins of the family Pedinidae. Their armour is covered with spines. Caenopedina pulchella was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz and Hubert Lyman Clark.

Centrostephanus asteriscus is a species of sea urchin of the family Diadematidae. Their armour is covered with spines. Centrostephanus asteriscus was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz & Hubert Lyman Clark.

<i>Chaetodiadema pallidum</i> Species of sea urchin

Chaetodiadema pallidum is a species of sea urchins of the Family Diadematidae. Their armour is covered with spines. Chaetodiadema pallidum was first scientifically described in 1907 by Alexander Emanuel Agassiz and Hubert Lyman Clark.

Flower urchins may refer to:

<i>Toxopneustes elegans</i> Species of sea urchin

Toxopneustes elegans is a species of sea urchin endemic to Japan. Like the closely related flower urchin, they are venomous.

<i>Toxopneustes maculatus</i> Species of sea urchin

Toxopneustes maculatus is a rare species of sea urchin found in the Indo-West Pacific.

<i>Athanas areteformis</i> Species of crustacean

Athanas areteformis is a species of small alpheid shrimp from the Indo-West Pacific.

<i>Araeosoma</i> Genus of sea urchins

Araeosoma is a genus of deep-sea sea urchins in the family Echinothuriidae.

<i>Dermechinus</i> Genus of sea urchins

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.

<i>Pseudocentrotus depressus</i> Species of sea urchin

Pseudocentrotus depressus, commonly known as the pink sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin, one of only two species in the genus Pseudocentrotus. It was first described in 1864 by the American marine zoologist Alexander Agassiz as Toxocidaris depressus, having been collected during the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition undertaken by Captain Cadwalader Ringgold and later Captain John Rodgers.

<i>Tetrapygus</i> Genus of sea urchins

Tetrapygus is a genus of sea urchins in the family Arbaciidae. It is a monotypic genus and the only species is Tetrapygus niger which was first described by the Chilean naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina in 1782. It is found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean on the coasts of South America.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Andreas Kroh (2014). Kroh A, Mooi R (eds.). "Toxopneustes roseus (A. Agassiz, 1863)". World Echinoidea Database. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Commonly Seen Marine Creatures". Galapagos Diving. September 4, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ Hubert Lyman Clark (1925). A Catalogue of the Recent Sea-Urchins (Echinoidea) in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Oxford University Press. pp. 122–123.
  4. ↑ Alexander Agassiz & Hubert Lyman Clark (1912). "Hawaiian and Other Pacific Echini: The Pedinidae, Phymosomatidae, Stomopneustidae, Echinidae, Temnopleuridae, Strongylocentrotidae, and Echinometridae". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College. 34 (4): 207–383.
  5. 1 2 3 "'Flower Sea Urchin - Erizo Florado (Toxopneustes roseus)". MexFish. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 David Wayland James (1998). The Biology of Toxopneustes roseus in Rhodolith Beds in Baja California Sur, Mexico (PDF) (M.Sc.). San Jose State University.
  7. 1 2 Simon Coppard. "Toxopneustes roseus". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Toxopneustes L. Agassiz, 1841, p. 7". The Echinoid Directory. Natural History Museum. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Christopher Mah (February 4, 2014). "What we know about the world's most venomous sea urchin Toxopneustes fits in this blog post!". Echinoblog. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ Yasunobu Yanagisawa (1972). "Preliminary observations on the so-called heaping behaviour in a sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus (A. Agassiz)" (PDF). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. 9 (6): 431–435.
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