immediately after a new moon. During the event, spawning individuals discard the debris that usually cover their bodies before releasing their gametes into the water. Another study published in 2013 did not find any obvious correlation between lunar and tidal cycles to the mass spawning behavior of the flower urchin populations in southern Taiwan. It did note that the spawning patterns appeared to be non-random, with higher spawning rates on daytime on certain dates. However, the study was conducted within a span of only five months (from April to August 2010). "Covering" behavior Flower urchins are among the numerous species of sea urchins known as "collector urchins", so named because they frequently cover the upper surfaces of their bodies with debris from their surroundings. This behavior is usually referred to as "covering" or "heaping". Flower urchins are usually found almost completely covered in objects like dead coral fragments, shells, seaweed, and rocks. These are held fast to their bodies using their tube feet and pedicellariae. The function of this behavior is not well understood. Some authors believe that the debris serve as ballast, preventing them from being swept away by wave surges when feeding; while others believe that they may function as some sort of defense against predation. A 2007 study has hypothesized that the behavior may serve as protection from UV radiation during daytime. Venom Bioactive components At least two active toxins have been purified from the pedicellarial venom of flower urchins in two studies. The first was discovered in 1991 and named Contractin A. It was found to interfere with the transmission of signals at nerve endings as well as cause hemagglutination (clumping of the red blood cells). When administered to guinea pigs, it resulted in contractions in the smooth muscles. The second, discovered in 1994, is a protein toxin named peditoxin. It is composed of the protein pedin and the active prosthetic group pedoxin. At low doses to mice, pedoxin was found to result in markedly lower body temperatures, muscle relaxation, sedation, and anesthetic coma. At higher doses it resulted in convulsions and death. Pedin itself is non-toxic, but it magnifies the effects of pedoxin. When combined into the holoprotein peditoxin, even low doses resulted in anaphylaxis-like shock and death. UT841, a possible third toxin isolated in 2001, has been shown to affect brain metabolism in chicks. However, the authors are unclear on whether UT841 may actually