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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Black sea cucumber

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

Easy to recognise by its dark colour and sea-cucumber outline, the Black sea cucumber slowly explores the seabed for organic matter. Mainly active at night, it reworks sediments and plays an essential role in the health of coastal ecosystems.

Habitat de Black sea cucumber Habitat
Detrital bottom, Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat
Profondeur de Black sea cucumber Depth
0-100 m
Groupe biologique de Black sea cucumber Group
Echinoderm
Rôle écologique de Black sea cucumber Role
Decomposer

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The Black sea cucumber is a marine animal with an elongated, flexible body. It is dark, ranging from very dark brown to black, sometimes dotted with small pale papillae. Its mouth is at one end of the body, surrounded by oral tentacles, while the anus is at the opposite end. Its soft body allows it to contract and move slowly over the seabed.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It can be observed on various seabeds, including sand, mud, rocks and seagrass meadows. It moves slowly, crawling over the substrate through body contractions, and generally lives resting on the bottom.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It is a detritivorous organism. It takes in sediment to extract organic particles. After digestion, it releases cleaned sand in characteristic small strings.

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Other species — Echinoderm

Royal sea cucumber Long-spined sea urchin Pencil sea urchin Purple heart urchin Mediterranean Feather Star Sea cucumber Purple sea urchin Melon sea urchin

Same habitat and depth

Detrital seabed species Rocky seabed species Coralligenous habitat species

Same ecological role and depth

Decomposer species

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