Lissothuria nutriens

Species of sea cucumber

Lissothuria nutriens

Dwarf sea cucumber clinging to a rock at the bottom of a tide pool
Scientific classification
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]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ a b c Meerwasser-Lexikon Team (2016-12-21). "Lissothuria nutriens". ReefLex.net.
4. ^ Young, Alison (2021-02-10). "Dwarf Sea Cucumber". iNaturalist.
5. ^ "Dwarf Sea Cucumber Photo Browser". iNaturalist. 2021-02-10.
6. ^ a b c Cannon, L.R.G.; Sliver, H. "Order Dendrochirotida". Marine Species Identification Portal.

Taxon identifiers

Lissothuria nutriens|

* Wikidata: Q2491234
* BOLD: 748226
* CoL: 3VGGF
* EoL: 598117
* GBIF: 2279375
* iNaturalist: 49484
* IRMNG: 10584761
* ITIS: 158164
* NCBI: 1902863
* OBIS: 529527
* Open Tree of Life: 3653237
* SeaLifeBase: 50051
* WoRMS: 529527

Thyonepsolus nutriens|

* Wikidata: Q134030991
* GBIF: 5966737
* WoRMS: 529849