Toxopneustidae is a family of globular sea urchins in the class Echinoidea.

Toxopneustidae
Tripneustes gratilla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoidea
Order: Camarodonta
Infraorder: Echinidea
Family: Toxopneustidae
Troschel, 1872 [1]

Characteristics

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All Camarodonts have imperforate tubercles and compound ambulacral plates. In addition, the Toxopneustids are characterised by the peristome, or opening through the test, having a sharp margin with the buccal notches being prominent. The tubercles lack the crenulations or ring of cog-like structures that articulate with the spines in certain other families. The Aristotle's lantern, or jaw apparatus, has the keeled teeth and the epiphyses united above the foramen magnum, the V-shaped gap between the hemipyramids that support the lantern's tooth.[2]

Genera

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References

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  1. ^ a b Toxopneustidae World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  2. ^ The Echinoid Directory The Natural History Museum. Retrieved 2011-08-27.