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.
Image: Toxopneustes pileolus Okinawa 5m
Image: Toxopneustes pileolus distribution range
Flower urchin from Tasitolu, East Timor (note the visible purple zigzag in one of the ambulacral segments)
Bottom (oral) surface of the flower urchin showing spines, tube feet, and the mouth with the chewing apparatus (Aristotle's lantern)
Paracorynactis is a genus of corallimorphs from the western Indo-West Pacific. They are specialized predators of echinoderms, and are notable for preying on the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish among others. The genus is monotypic with the single species, Paracorynactis hoplites.
Paracorynactis