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Toxopneustes pileolus
Pentaradial symmetrical body, yellowish in colour, mouth centrally located in the bottom, its name is derived from its numerous and distinctively flower-like pedicellariae used for defense against predators and larger ectoparasites with blunt short spines hidden below.
Spotted at Pulu Cinta, a sandy atoll reef at Sulawesi, Indonesia. Flower urchins are widespread and common in the tropical Indo-West Pacific. They are found among coral reefs, coral rubble, rocks, sand, and seagrass beds at depths of 0 to 90m.
The generic name Toxopneustes literally means "poison breath", derived from Greek. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Superorder: Echinacea Order: Camarodonta Infraorder: Temnopleuridea Family: Toxopneustidae Genus: Toxopneustes Species: T. pileolus
Spotted on Aug 4, 2016
Submitted on Jan 25, 2017
2 Comments
You are welcome Leuba, thanks for your comment
Very interesting Jordi. Thanks.