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Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Holothuroidea
Sea
Cucumbers
| Sea cucumbers feed upon detritus collected from the seafloor or
suspended in the water column. They are more active at night and
often host crustaceans, mollusks, or fish within and without. Many
species eject stick white threads called Cuvierian Tubules when
disturbed.
More
information about Sea Cucumbers from the University of Guam
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Sticky Cuvierian Tubules
HAWAII
Actinopyga
mauritiana
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Kapoho tidepools, Hawaii, 4 feet |
Kahe Point, Oahu, 20 feet |
Sharks Cove tidepool, Pupukea, Oahu |
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WHITE-SPOTTED
SEA CUCUMBER
| Common in shallow wave washed areas firmly attached to reef.
Hard skin with white spots. About 8 inches. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |
Actinopyga
obesa
Fish Hole, Midway, 45 feet
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Kapoho tidepools, Hawaii |
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet |
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PLUMP
SEA CUCUMBER
| Frequent on hard reefs in shallow water. Leathery orange or
brown skin with tiny papillae may be covered with sand. About 10
inches. Hawaii & the tropical Pacific. |
Bohadschia paradoxa
Peek-a-boo, Midway Atoll, 40 feet |
Peek-a-boo, Midway Atoll, 40 feet |
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PARADOXICAL SEA CUCUMBER
| Common partially buried in sand in deep water. Rust orange with
dark papillae. Readily ejects cuvierian tubules. Attains 20 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria
sp. 1
Peek-a-boo, Midway Atoll, 50 feet |
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CHOCOLATE-CHIP SEA CUCUMBER
| Rare in deep water except in the far Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and
Midway. Black papillae are ringed with white. About 12
inches. Hawaii. |
Holothuria
sp. 2
Pearl & Hermes Reef, 4 feet |
UNIDENTIFIED
| Rare on reef flats in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Hard body with flattened base. About 10 inches. Hawaii. |
Holothuria arenicola
Paiko, Oahu |
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SAND SEA CUCUMBER
| Buried in sand, often under stones. Attains 10 inches.
Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Western Atlantic. |
Holothuria
whitmaei
Fish Hole, Midway, 45 feet |
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TEATED
SEA CUCUMBER
| Common on hard reef.
Rigid skin with flat base and stubs along margin. Usually coated
with sand and attains 12 inches. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Holothura
atra
Kahuwai Bay, Hawaii, 20 feet
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Atlantis Reef, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet |
Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 30 feet |
Atlantis Reef, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet
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BLACK SEA CUCUMBER
| Common on sandy reefs. Round in cross section having thick but
flexible skin coated with sand. Attains 20 inches. Hawaii
& the Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria cinerascens
Kaupo, Waimanalo, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Kaupo, Waimanalo, Oahu
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Kaupo, Waimanalo, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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ASHY SEA CUCUMBER
| Common in the intertidal zone, holes, and caverns. Occurs in
clusters and extends tentacles to capture food in the current.
Purplish brown to black. Attains 6 inches. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria edulis
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 15 feet |
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 5 feet |
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EDIBLE
or BURNT HOTDOG SEA CUCUMBER
| Occasional on sand in Kaneohe Bay. Pink with black dorsal
surface. Attains 8 inches. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria difficilis
Sharks Cove tidepool, Pupukea, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u, Oahu, 10 feet |
Kaloko, Oahu, 5 feet |
Kaloko, Oahu, 5 feet |
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DIFFICULT SEA CUCUMBER
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Common under
stones in areas exposed to wave action.
Thin reddish brown skin with black papillae. Attains 5
inches. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.
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Holothuria
flavomaculata
Sharks Cove tidepool, Pupukea, Oahu |
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 5 feet |
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YELLOWSPOTTED SEA
CUCUMBER
| Rare in holes in
shallow water. Over a foot long when extended. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria hilla
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 20 feet |
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LIGHT-SPOTTED SEA CUCUMBER
| Common under rocks.
Thin and flexible, emerging at night to feed. Attains 12 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Holothuria impatiens
Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i
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Kapoho tidepools, Hawaii |
Black Rock, Ka'anapali, Maui, 35 feet
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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IMPATIENT SEA CUCUMBER
| Common under rocks.
Has prominent conical papillae. Attains 8 inches.
Warm seas worldwide. |
Holothuria pardalis
Okoe Bay, Hawaii, 45 feet
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Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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LEOPARD SEA CUCUMBER
| Uncommon under rocks.
Cream with brown blotches in rows and conical papillae. About 8
inches. Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, & Tropical Eastern
Pacific. |
Holothuria
pervicax
Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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STUBBORN
SEA CUCUMBER
| Common under rocks.
Blunt papillae with black tips and rough body. Attains 12 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Stichopus
sp. 1
Atlantis Reef, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet
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Atlantis Reef, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet
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Okoe Bay, Hawaii, 80 feet |
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HAWAIIAN
SPIKY SEA CUCUMBER
| Occasional in deep water. At least 16 inches. Hawaii. |
Stichopus
sp. 2
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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HAWAIIAN YELLOW-TIP SEA CUCUMBER
| Rare in shallow water. About 8 inches. Hawaii. |
Stichopus
horrens
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet
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Juvenile, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 75 feet |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Juvenile, Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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WARTY
SEA CUCUMBER Namako
| Common in dark holes emerging at night to feed. Shiny skin
varies in color, juveniles are yellow or transparent. About 10
inches. Edible and called Namako in Japanese. Hawaii &
the Indo-Pacific. |
Synaptid
Sea Cucumbers
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Synaptids have very thin skin with tiny embedded hooks used to cling
to anything it comes in contact with. For this reason they are
easily damaged when handled, especially with gloves. The body is
able to expand and contract a great deal.
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Euapta
godeffroyi
Okoe Bay, Hawaii, 40 feet |
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LION'S
PAW SEA CUCUMBER
| Occasional under rocks in clear water. Very thin and flexible,
white with brown and yellow. At least 3 feet extended.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Opheodesoma
spectabilis
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 35 feet
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Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 5 feet |
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 5 feet |
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 5 feet |
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CONSPICUOUS
SEA CUCUMBER
| Common on sand flats in Kaneohe Bay and other harbors. Pink with
brown and white. At least 3 feet extended. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |
Polyplectana
kefersteini
Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i
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Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i |
Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i |
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KEFERSTEIN'S
SEA CUCUMBER
| Occasional under rocks. Brown, thin, and flexible. About 2
feet. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Chiridota
hawaiiensis
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 15 feet |
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 15 feet |
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| Locally common in silty sand in shallow water. Attains 3 inches. |
INDO-PACIFIC
Bohadschia argus
Bora Bora, Society Islands, 6 feet |
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ARGUS SEA CUCUMBER
| Common on sand. To at least 16 inches. Indo-Pacific except
Hawaii. |
NORTHEAST PACIFIC
Cucumeria miniata
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
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ORANGE SEA CUCUMBER
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Abundant on rocky current-swept reefs. Varies
from orange to dark brown. Alaska to Central California. |
Eupentacta quinquesemita
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
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WHITE SEA CUCUMBER
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Common on rocky reefs in current-swept areas.
Has 8 long & 2 short oral tentacles. The similar Cucumeria
piperata & C. pallida have 10 long tentacles. Alaska to Japan & Baja
California. |
Psolus chitonoides
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
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SLIPPER or RED SEA CUCUMBER
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Attached to rocks in current-swept areas.
Resembles a chiton or tunicate
when tentacles are retracted. Alaska to Baja California. |
Pseudochnus lubricus
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 10 feet |
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 10 feet |
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Common in holes of rocky reefs at scuba depths. Attains
3 inches. Alaska to Southern California. Formerly known as Cucumaria
fisheri astigmatus. |
Parastichopus californicus
Ogden Point, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet
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Spring Bay, Victoria, Canada, 40 feet |
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 50 feet |
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CALIFORNIA SEA CUCUMBER
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Common at scuba depths where harvest is
restricted. Sold to Asian markets. Color patter
varies. Attains 16 inches. Alaska to Baja California. |
Parastichopus parvimensis
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 30 feet |
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WARTY SEA CUCUMBER
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Common on rocky reefs at scuba depths. Attains
10 inches. Monterey Bay to Baja California. |
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