Toxopneustes

Toxopneustes Temporal range: Pliocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
The flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus) is potentially dangerous to humans
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Echinoidea
Order:	Temnopleuroida
Family:	Toxopneustidae
Genus:	Toxopneustes L. Agassiz, 1841b
Type species
Echinus pileolus Lamarck, 1816
Synonyms
Boletia L. Agassiz, 1841

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 (tiny claw-like structures). They are sometimes collectively known as flower urchins, after the most widespread and most commonly encountered species in the genus, the flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus). Species included in the genus are the following:

Toxopneustes pileolus from Okinawa, Japan

Toxopneustes pileolus from Réunion

Toxopneustes roseus from the Gulf of California, Mexico