This is the Euapta godeffroyi or Sea Cucumber
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This is a sea cucumber.
Sea cucumbers are Echinoderms and there are 1200 species of them worldwide. They can be found everywhere in all the oceans. They can be benthic or found on the ocean floor from inter-tidal zones to deep/pelagic waters. You can find them in the coral/rubble or they can scoot and burrow under the sand. Some even swim in the open ocean. This particular one is known as a Lionʻs Paw sea cucumber or Euapta godeffroyi.
Sea cucumbers play an important role in the ocean. They help with nutrient cycling.
They can clean the ocean floor as filter feeders or use their tentacles around their mouth to press into the sand and catch and eat detritus, plankton, or particles floating in the water. They process the waste into another form that can be food for other species. They can actually filter up to 99 lbs of sediment per year. They often choose to consume the more nutritious particles and will often eat up to several times its body weight.
This particular species is thin, worm-like, and flexible. It can grow up to 2 feet. It is creamy white and has brownish/red stripes, gray patches, and sometimes has yellow edges. There are 15 tentacles, near the mouth, that collect particles in the water and then scrape it off into their mouth. The tentacles can sometimes look feathery much like a lions mane. There are lots of other fun facts about sea cucumbers. Perhaps, we will share them in another blog post!
The image above was taken during a Private Ocean Project Maui Snorkel Tour.
This colorful image was taken off a West Maui Beach by the dedicated staff of Ocean Project Maui. They offer custom, private snorkel tours around the island of Maui, Hawaii. Each #COLORSOFTHEOCEAN image you see in our monthly blog, was captured during a private guided snorkel tour. These amazing images, as well as images above and below the water of the clients/supporters are included in every tour at no additional cost.
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