Toxopneustes pileolus ( Lamarck 1816 )

Yiu, Sam King Fung & Mah, Christopher L., 2024, New Ecological Observations and Occurrence for Asteroidea and Echinoidea in Hong Kong, Zootaxa 5526 (1), pp. 1-69 : 26

Toxopneustes pileolus ( Lamarck 1816)

FIGURE 16

Comments

This specimen was found at Basalt Island, at 10 m in rocky habitat. It was identified by large globiferous pedicellariae, the spines were banded in purplish, greenish, whitish, or reddish hues. Liao & Clark (1995) and Liao (1998) reported this species from Xisha Island and the southern end of Hainan Island, but this represents the first occurrence of this species in Hong Kong, which is distributed widely throughout the Indo-Pacific and is well known for its venomous pedicellariae (e.g. Endean 1961).

This species is one of several tropical urchin species which practices “covering” behavior, placing debris of various types on its aboral surface. Barrett et al. (2019) has presented evidence suggesting this is a protection mechanism against UV radiation. Chen and Soong (2010) have reported that during spawning of this species (spring tide in May) it discards “collected” materials which have been accumulated on its surface.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 10 m.

Outside Hong Kong. southern China, Xisha Island, southern end of Hainan Island. to Hawaiian Islands , northern Australia, Indo-Pacific to East Africa , Red Sea , Arabian Gulf and Maldives. 0–90 m.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Toxopneustes pileolus. In situ observation showing collecting behavior. Photographer: Sam King Fung Yiu.