Spatangus raschi
Local name: toppig sjömus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
11
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatangus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Echinoidea
Order
Spatangoida
Family
Spatangidae
Genus
Spatangus
Spatangus raschi belongs to the family Spatangidae, order Spatangoida, within the Echinoidea class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The toppig sjömus faces severe population declines due to bottom trawling activities that destroy its fragile seafloor habitat and directly harm individuals. Climate change-induced ocean warming and acidification further threaten this species by altering sediment chemistry and reducing food availability in its specialized deep-water environment.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Deep-water sandy and muddy seafloor sediments in the North Atlantic, typically found at depths between 50-200 meters where it burrows in soft substrates. The species requires stable sediment environments with specific grain sizes and organic content for feeding and reproduction.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The toppig sjömus faces severe population declines due to bottom trawling activities that destroy its fragile seafloor habitat and directly harm individuals. Climate change-induced ocean warming and acidification further threaten this species by altering sediment chemistry and reducing food availability in its specialized deep-water environment.
Bottom trawling and fishing gear damage
Ocean acidification
Ocean warming from climate change
Pollution and marine debris
Sediment disturbance from human activities
Found in 11 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Spatangus raschi (Spatangus raschi). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/toppig-sjomus