Lissothuria nutriens
This bright orange-red sea cucumber is 2 centimeters long, with light orange papillae spread across its dorsal surface. The papillae on its posterior are holding a flat square pebble on top. It was found near the bottom of a tide pool clinging to a rock or possibly walking with hundreds of tube feet poking out from the entire perimeter of its mantel. It is also holding a square but flat pebble on its right rear. Its feeding tentacles are contracted in a light red circle on its head.
Dwarf sea cucumber clinging to a rock at the bottom of a tide pool
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Dendrochirotida
Family: Psolidae
Genus: Lissothuria
Species:
L. nutriens
Binomial name
Lissothuria nutriens
Brandt, 1835

Lissothuria nutriens, commonly known as the dwarf sea cucumber or scarlet sea cucumber, is a bright red-orange sea cucumber that can be found in tide pools[1] along much of the California coast.[2]

Description

The dorsal surface is bright red-orange with small white tube feet evenly spread about. The lower surface or foot is pinkish and has rows of white tube feet.[1]: 947  It grows to about 2 cm.[3] Surrounding its mouth, it has 2 small and 8 large pinkish red dendritic tentacles.[1]: 942, 946–947  The flesh surrounding its mouth contains a few plates.[1]: 947 

Range

Lissothuria nutriens can be found from Monterey Bay to Southern California,[1]: 946–947  and have been found as far north as Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands.[4]

Habitat

Lissothuria nutriens can be found clinging to or moving across a rocky substrate or in sandy areas between alga holdfasts from the low intertidal to 20 meters deep.[1]: 946–947  Based on the observations on iNaturalist it can also be found on various kinds of alga.[5]

Diet

Lissothuria nutriens extends its sticky, dendritic tentacles[6] to catch plankton.[3] The tentacles then move the captured prey down its branches toward its base and into its mouth.[6] It absorbs additional nutrients that it extracts from mud.[3]

Reproduction

Lissothuria nutriens broods a small number of large eggs by moving them to pits on its dorsal surface.[1]: 947  As a member of the order Dendrochirotida, the eggs have sufficient energy to enable the larvae to complete their development without needing to be fed.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Abbott, Donald P; et al. (2007). The Light and Smith Manual [of] Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California to Oregon (4th ed.). Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press.
  2. ↑ Miller, Allison K.; Kerr, Alexander M.; Paulay, Gustav; Reich, Mike; Wilson, Nerida G.; Carvajal, Jose I.; Rouse, Greg W. (June 2017). "Molecular phylogeny of extant Holothuroidea (Echinodermata)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 111: 110–131. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.02.014. PMID 28263876.
  3. 1 2 3 Meerwasser-Lexikon Team (2016-12-21). "Lissothuria nutriens". ReefLex.net.
  4. ↑ Young, Alison (2021-02-10). "Dwarf Sea Cucumber". iNaturalist.
  5. ↑ "Dwarf Sea Cucumber Photo Browser". iNaturalist. 2021-02-10.
  6. 1 2 3 Cannon, L.R.G.; Sliver, H. "Order Dendrochirotida". Marine Species Identification Portal.
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