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Cucumaria miniata (Red sea cucumber)
Copyright ©
2005 Mary Jo Adams
Because
this sea cucumber tends to live with most of its body curled up
in a crevice, you're likely to see only the extended tentacles if
it is covered by water, or if not, a very small portion of its body.
The body is 4-10 inches in length and has 5 rows of tube
feet. Color is somewhat variable; although often brick red,
the animal may also be pinkish white, purple, or reddish brown.
It has 10 orange tentacles of equal length that it uses to
collect small particles of detritus and plankton from the water.
The tentacles are drawn into the mouth one at a time to "lick"
off the nourishment.
This
animal is found in rocky areas from the low intertidal zone to a
depth of 700 feet.
Cucumaria
miniata is preyed on by Solaster stimpsoni and other sea
stars. Another common name for it is red sea gherkin.
This page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 11/19/05.
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