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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Royal sea cucumber

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean

Easy to recognise by its yellow-orange colouring and granular skin, the Royal sea cucumber moves slowly over the sand. By sorting nutritious particles from the sediment, it actively helps maintain and oxygenate the seabed.

Habitat de Royal sea cucumber Habitat
Sand, Detrital bottom
Profondeur de Royal sea cucumber Depth
10-200 m
Groupe biologique de Royal sea cucumber Group
Echinoderm
Rôle écologique de Royal sea cucumber Role
Decomposer

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This marine animal has an elongated, flexible body with a slightly flattened shape. It can reach around 20 to 30 cm. Its colour varies from brown to yellow-orange, often with darker shades on the back. Its skin is thick and covered in small papillae, giving it a granular appearance. At the front, branching tentacles surround the mouth and collect food. Its overall shape and texture allow it to blend into the surrounding sediment.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It mainly frequents soft sandy or muddy seabeds, sometimes associated with detrital areas rich in organic particles. It is mostly encountered from a few tens to several hundred metres deep, in the Mediterranean and some neighbouring Atlantic areas. It often rests on the sediment surface or partly buries itself.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It is a detritivorous organism that ingests sediment to extract organic matter. Its oral tentacles allow it to collect food particles, which are then sorted before ingestion. This feeding method contributes to the natural recycling of organic matter on the seabed.

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Other species — Echinoderm

Purple heart urchin Black sea cucumber Sea cucumber Brittle star Long-spined sea urchin White sea urchin Mediterranean Feather Star Basket star

Same habitat and depth

Sandy seabed species Detrital seabed species

Same ecological role and depth

Decomposer species

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