Cucumaria miniata

The Red Sea Cucumber

Phylum Echinodermata
Class Holothuroidea
Order Dendrochirotida
Family Phyllophoridae
Genus Cucumaria
Species miniata

Description: 25 cm long, and 25 mm wide; red, red-brown, bright orange, sometimes pink or purplish; cucumber-shaped with 10 significantly-branched tentacles around the mouth; tentacles when extended are orange or maroon and retractable; 5 rows of tube feet run along the length of the body.

Habitat: Most commonly found wedged into crevices on floats and docks, can also be found between rocks or buried in mud or gravel at low tide.

Natural History: This sea cucumber traps food particles with tentacles. When full of food or touched, the tentacles retract. It feeds on phytoplankton and detritus.