Actinopyga caerulea
Actinopyga caerulea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Holothuroidea |
Order: | Holothuriida |
Family: | Holothuriidae |
Genus: | Actinopyga |
Species: | A. caerulea
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Binomial name | |
Actinopyga caerulea |
Actinopyga caerulea, the blue sea cucumber,[1] is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical Western Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.
Description
Actinopyga caerulea is a large sea cucumber, growing to a length of about 400 mm (16 in). The body of this sea cucumber is white, with numerous dark blue tube feet and papillae covering it. The density of these tube feet and papillae, and therefore coloration, can vary from sea cucumber to sea cucumber, but density typically increases on the dorsal area.[3][4] The body itself is stout, with a thick and firm body wall.[2] The mouth is usually surrounded by 15-30 large shield-shaped feeding tentacles, while the anus is surrounded by five prominent anal teeth, which are white in coloration.[2] The pinkish[5] Cuvierian tubules can be present or absent depending on the specimen, but when present are non-sticky, never expelled, and composed of three distinct parts: the proximal (first) half of the trunk is smooth, the distal (second) half of the trunk is slightly rugged, and highly ragged primary and secondary branches extend beyond that.[2]
Reproduction
Like many other members of the class
Distribution and habitat
Actinopyga caerulea is found off the coasts of Asia and Africa, in the tropical Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Comoros, to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other island groups in the western Pacific. It is found on the seabed in deeper tropical water on sand and rubble, as well as coral patches on the edge of coral reefs, at depths between 12 and 45 m (40 and 150 ft).[1]
Ecology
The emperor shrimp (
Conservation status
This species is harvested commercially for food in some parts of its range. It is used in the production of
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ .
- ^ a b "Actinopyga caerulea". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
- .
- ^ a b "Actinopyga caerulea". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
- ^ Greenfield, Jim (May 9, 2014). "Actinopyga caerulea from Bitung, ID-SW, ID on May 09, 2014 at 11:15 AM BST". iNaturalist. Retrieved 30 September 2020.