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sea
cucumbers text index
| photo index
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| Phylum Echinodermata > Class Holothuroidea |
| Ball
sea cucumber Phyllophorus sp. Family Phyllophoridae updated Apr 09 Where seen? This spherical sea cucumber is commonly seen on some of our Northern shores. It is usually buried in sandy areas near seagrasses. Sometimes, it may also be found washed up on the shore hidden among the seaweeds. Be careful not to step on these. Features: 10-15cm. Often spherical, but sometimes elongated. Short stubby tube feet and tiny filaments (papulae) evenly cover the entire body. These help grip the sand and keep the animal anchored underground. Usually, only the feeding tentacles stick out while the entire animal remains buried. The branching feeding tentacles are transparent with dark tips. Usually white, beige, brownish and sometimes orangey. Those found above ground tend to be round, sometimes inflated into transparent white balls. Freshly dug-up ball sea cucumbers are more ovoid as they place the mouth and backside near the surface. Like some other sea cucumbers, it will eject its guts if it feels threatened. What does it eat? It gathers edible bits from the water with bushy mucus-covered feeding tentacles. Status and threats: The Tennis-ball sea cucumber (Phyllophorus spiculata) is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Chek Jawa, Mar 05  Ejecting its innards. Chek Jawa, Nov 01 |
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 Tuas, Sep 08 |
 Those found washed ashore may be inflated into transparent balls. Changi, Apr 05 |
 Changi, Apr 05 |
 Mouth and anus facing the surface |
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Ball
sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
 Changi, Jul 07 |
 Feeding tentacles. |
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 Chek Jawa, Feb 05 |
 Ejecting innards. |
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 Chek Jawa, Mar 05 |
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 An injured sea cucumber? |
more photos of ball sea cucumbers on Singapore shores
part 1 | part 2
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Links
References
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