Species:
Other Names: Royal Sea Cucumber
Description
One of the largest sea cucumbers, the upper surface
is rounded while the lower surface is very flat. The body wall is thick and
smooth. The ventral mouth is surrounded by 18 blunt tentacles. The upper
surface is covered in rounded tubercles. Warty growths form an unbroken line
along the side of the body.
Some sea cucumbers crawl around on the bottom slowly filtering sand through their tentacles to gather food, while others spread their tentacles above them to capture plankton. A number of sea cucumbers feed nocturnally while others feed by day.
There are sea cucumbers that hardly move while
others are more active often perching on tall sponges to feed.
Sea cucumbers often attract hitch-hikers like
shrimps and crabs that crawl over their skin, also pearl fish that enter via
their anus.
As a means of defense sea cucumbers can expel their
intestines or respiratory organs in the form of sticky threads, but these can
quickly regenerate.
Juveniles often mimic sea slugs.
Some types of sea cucumbers are edible and considered
a delicacy in the Far East countries.
Depth Range: 5-30 M
Maximum Length: 60 Cm
Distribution: tropical, Indo-west Pacific Ocean
Habitat: generally occurs on hard ground, large rubble and coral sand patches, on
reef slopes, outer lagoon and near passes.
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