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scientific endorsement
ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Sea cucumber

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean

On a sandy or muddy seabed, the Sea cucumber often attracts attention through its size and bulky appearance. Moving little but ubiquitous in some areas, it is one of the great natural recyclers of Mediterranean coastal environments.

Habitat de Sea cucumber Habitat
Sand, Seagrass meadow
Profondeur de Sea cucumber Depth
1-50 m
Groupe biologique de Sea cucumber Group
Echinoderm
Rôle écologique de Sea cucumber Role
Decomposer

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This Sea cucumber is a marine animal with an elongated, cylindrical, flexible body. Its colouring varies from light to dark brown, sometimes with more reddish shades. Its skin is thick and covered in small fleshy papillae of varying prominence. On its underside, it has numerous tube feet allowing it to move slowly. The mouth, surrounded by oral tentacles, is at one end, while the anus is at the other.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It mainly lives on soft seabeds such as sand or mud, as well as detrital areas. It occurs in coastal environments, from shallow water down to several tens of metres deep. It often rests on the seabed, sometimes lightly buried in the sediment.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It is a detritivorous organism. It ingests sediment to extract organic matter. Unassimilated particles are expelled as small strings of sand, contributing to natural seabed mixing.

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Other species — Echinoderm

Purple heart urchin Royal sea cucumber Black sea cucumber Red Starfish Mediterranean Feather Star Brittle star Long-spined sea urchin Purple sea urchin

Same habitat and depth

Sandy seabed species Seagrass meadow species

Same ecological role and depth

Decomposer species

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