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Palaeopneustes tholoformis

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description Palaeopneustes tholoformis Overview

Palaeopneustes tholoformis is a species of deep-sea spatangoid sea urchin, a type of heart urchin that inhabits the Atlantic Ocean floor. The species was formally described by the zoologist Chesher and is scientifically notable for its ecological role as a host for small symbiotic crustaceans. These urchins are adapted to the high-pressure, cold-water environments of the deep sea, where they burrow into the substrate. Their anatomy and symbiotic relationships provide insight into deep-water benthic ecosystems.

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What kind of sea urchin is Palaeopneustes tholoformis?

Palaeopneustes tholoformis is an irregular spatangoid sea urchin in the family Paleopneustidae. It is sometimes spelled Paleopneustes in modern scientific sources and is associated with deep water in the tropical West Atlantic. [University of Miami](https://scholarship.miami.edu/esploro/outputs/book/The-Systematics-of-Sympatric-Species-in/991031447446002976)

How deep does Palaeopneustes tholoformis live?

Deep-sea observations have recorded it at approximately 236 to 645 metres. A specimen used in a shrimp-host study was collected near the Bahamas at 550 to 600 metres. [Smithsonian study](https://repository.si.edu/bitstreams/50b28387-4199-4ab0-96a0-89826b799a65/download), [Journal of Crustacean Biology](https://academic.oup.com/jcb/article/9/3/432/2327779)

Who described Palaeopneustes tholoformis?

The species was described by Richard H. Chesher in 1968. Chesher's University of Miami work revised several West Indian spatangoid genera, including Paleopneustes. [University of Miami](https://scholarship.miami.edu/esploro/outputs/book/The-Systematics-of-Sympatric-Species-in/991031447446002976)

Which shrimp species use Palaeopneustes tholoformis as a host?

Recorded associates include the shrimps Periclimenes ingressicolumbi and Diapontonia maranulus. A 2014 study reported that one host urchin could carry up to 10 Diapontonia maranulus specimens. [Zootaxa](https://mapress.com/zootaxa/2014/f/zt03881p596.pdf)

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