Candycane Sea Cucumber (Thelenota rubralineata)

Also known as Candycane Fish, Lemonfish, Lollyfish, Peppermint Sea Cucumber, Red-lined Sea Cucumber, Red-striped Sea Cucumber, Tripang

Description

Also known as Candycane Fish, Lemonfish, Lollyfish, Peppermint Sea Cucumber, Red-lined Sea Cucumber, Red-striped Sea Cucumber, Tripang.

Found over large rubble and coarse sand areas, of outer coral reef slopes.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 40cm
Depth - 5-40m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Distinctive appearance with large pointed teats in groups of two or three all over the body surface and numerous large tube feet on the flat underside.

Some sea cucumbers crawl around on the bottom slowly filtering sand through their tentacles to gather food, while others spread their tentacles above them to capture plankton. A number of sea cucumbers feed nocturnally while others feed by day.
There are sea cucumbers that hardly move while others are more active often perching on tall sponges to feed.
Sea cucumbers often attract hitch-hikers like shrimps and crabs that crawl over their skin, also pearlfish that enter via their anus.
As a means of defence sea cucumbers can expel their intestines or respiratory organs in the form of sticky threads, but these can quickly regenerate.
Juveniles often mimic sea slugs.
Some types of sea cucumbers are edible and considered a delicacy in the Far East countries. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelenota_rubralineata

1 comment

  1. Posted by Chris
    June 03, 2012 at 17:18 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    This*will*not*let*me*put*in*spaces. Anyhow,*I*found*one*on*6/1/2012*in*Guam*aand*looked*it*up*on*this*website* Found*at*Blue*and*White*Reef*about*35meters*120feet.

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