Toxopneustes elegans is one of the four species in the genusToxopneustes. It was first described by the GermanzoologistLudwig Heinrich Philipp Döderlein in 1885.[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 elegans means "elegant" in Latin.
It has no Englishcommon name, but it is known as kurosuji-rappa-uni (クロスジラッパウニ) in Japanese (literally "black streaked flower urchin").[2]
Toxopneustes elegans resemble the more common flower urchins, but they are smaller, reaching a maximum diameter of only 10 cm (4 in). They also have smaller pedicellariae, though they are still characteristically flower-like in appearance. The most distinctive feature of the species, however, are the prominent black bands just below the tip of each of the short spines.[3]
Toxopneustes elegans is endemic to Japan.[4] They can be found from Sagami BayinHonshu to the waters around the Amami Islands and Okinawa. They inhabit coral reefs, coral rubble, rocks, sand, and seagrass beds at depths of 2 to 20 m (7 to 66 ft) from the water's surface.[3][4]
