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sea
cucumbers text index
| photo index
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| Phylum Echinodermata > Class Holothuroidea |
| Black
long sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota Family Holothuriidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This large long black sea cucumber is seen on many of our shores, and is particularly common on many of our Southern shores. The long animal usually hides most of its body under large boulders or rocks. Features: Usually about 30-40cm, it can lengthen to about 1m long. Body cylindrical and long with short tube feet all over the body. The entire animal is uniformly very dark brown or maroon to black. When threatened, it can eject sticky white threads (called Cuvierian tubules) from its backside. These entangle the disturber. What does it eat? It gathers edible bits from the surface using its long feeding tentacles that have bushy sticky tips. Most of the body is usually wedged under rocks or crevices with only the front end extended out and the mouth facing downwards. It swallows much sand in the process of eating. This is undigested and defecated. Human uses: These sea cucumbers are not harvested for the food trade nor live aquarium trade. But there seems to be many studies investigating their biochemical properties. Status and threats: This sea cucumber is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the Red List of threatened animals in Singapore. |
 Sentosa, Aug 05  |
 St. John's Island, Jan 06 |
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Black long sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
 St. John's Island , May 04 |
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 Tiny shrimps sometimes seen on them. |
 Pulau Jong, Aug 10 |
 Producing a sheet of mucus? |
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 A small one (about 10cm long) a rare sight. Pulau Tekukor, Jan 10 |
video clips and more photos of black long sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3
Links
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Sea Challengers. 314pp.|
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