Lissothuria nutriens
| Lissothuria nutriens | |
|---|---|
_2.jpg)
| |
| Dwarf sea cucumber clinging to a rock at the bottom of a tide pool | |
Scientific 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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Meerwasser-Lexikon Team (2016-12-21). "Lissothuria nutriens". ReefLex.net.
- ^ Young, Alison (2021-02-10). "Dwarf Sea Cucumber". iNaturalist.
- ^ "Dwarf Sea Cucumber Photo Browser". iNaturalist. 2021-02-10.
- ^ a b c Cannon, L.R.G.; Sliver, H. "Order Dendrochirotida". Marine Species Identification Portal.