Isostichopus badionotus
| Isostichopus badionotus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Holothuroideaia |
| Order: | Aspidochirotida |
| Family: | Stichopodidae |
| Genus: | Isostichopus |
| Species: | I. badionotus |
| Binomial name | |
| Isostichopus badionotus Selenka, 1867 | |
Isostichopus badionotus, also known as the chocolate chip cucumber or the cookie dough sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Stichopodidae. This species is common in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Description
This is a large species that can grow to a length of 45 centimeters, but the average adult size is about 21 cm.[1] It has distinctive dark coloured "warts" in three coarse rows on its dorsal surface, the rest of the body may vary from white through to shades of orange to brown, with sometimes large brownish stains. The mouth is located ventrally and surrounded by about 20 large tentacles.
Habitat and range
This species is widespread in all the Caribbean region, from USA (North Carolina) to Brazil, and even western-central Africa.[1] It is found at depths between 0 and 55m.[2]
It inhabits shallow waters, in a wide variety of bottoms (sand, mud, rock, seaweeds...).[2]
References
- 1 2 Steven W. Purcell, Yves Samyn and Chantal Conand, Commercially important sea cucumbers of the world, Roma, FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes Nb. 6, 2012, 233 p. (ISBN 978-92-5-106719-2).
- 1 2 Toral-Granda, T.-G., Alvarado, J.J., Hamel, J.-F., Mercier, A., Benavides, M. & Paola Ortiz, E. 2013. Isostichopus badionotus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>.