Abstract
The taxonomic relationship of the two morphologically very similar seaurchins, Temnopleurus toreumaticus and T. hardwickii was examined by means of the gel electrophoresis of enzymes. The results demonstrated that the two species shared no common allozymes at 5 of the 15 genetic loci and that the genetic identity value (7=0.667) observed between the two species was comparable to those already reported between sibling species or very closely related species of many other animals. These electrophoretic data are not consistent with the views of earlier echinoid taxonomists that these two forms are conspecific or that each belongs to the different genus, and strongly support the generally accepted view that they are distinct but very closely related species.
